Oikeudenkäytännön

Oikeudenkäytännön is a Finnish term that translates to "case law" or "jurisprudence" in English. It refers to the body of legal decisions made by courts, particularly higher courts, that interpret and apply the law. These decisions establish precedents that guide future legal rulings in similar cases. Finnish law is primarily based on statutory law, meaning laws enacted by the legislature. However, case law plays a crucial role in clarifying and developing these statutes.

When a court hears a case, it applies existing statutes and regulations to the specific facts presented. If there is ambiguity in the law or a novel legal question arises, the court's decision can create new interpretations or set new legal principles. Decisions from the Supreme Court (Korkein oikeus) and the Supreme Administrative Court (Korkein hallinto-oikeus) are highly influential and are generally followed by lower courts.

The concept of oikeudenkäytännön is important for legal certainty and predictability. Lawyers and judges refer to previous decisions to understand how the law has been interpreted and applied, ensuring that similar cases are treated consistently. While not formally binding in the same way as statutory law in some common law systems, Finnish courts strive to maintain consistency with established case law. This ensures that the legal system remains coherent and that individuals can rely on predictable legal outcomes. Oikeudenkäytännön thus complements the written law by providing practical interpretations and applications.