Réttarfarslegu

Réttarfarslegu is an Icelandic adjective that means relating to the legal process, the judiciary, or procedural aspects of law. It is used to describe matters connected to the administration of justice, court procedures, and the functioning of the legal system. In formal and academic contexts, the term may appear in discussions of how laws are applied, how cases proceed through the courts, or how legal procedures are organized.

Etymology and form

The word is a compound built from elements related to law (rétt-) and process or conduct (far-s-/far). It forms the adjective rettarfarslegur, with rettarfarslegu being the dative singular form that can appear after prepositions or with certain nouns in fixed phrases, such as í rettarfarslegu samhengi.

Usage and nuance

Réttarfarslegu tends to emphasize the procedural, systemic, or processual side of law rather than substantive legal rules. It can contrast with terms like lögfræðilegur or lagfræði, which more broadly refer to law as a discipline or the study of law. In practice, rettarfarslegu appears primarily in formal writing, policy documents, and academic texts dealing with the judicial system, criminal procedure, or forensic-administrative aspects of law.

See also

réttarfarsfræði (forensic science or the study of legal processes), lögfræði (jurisprudence or legal science), réttarkerfi (legal system).