Réttarheimildirnar

Rettarheimildirnar is a term used in Icelandic legal discourse to refer to the sources of law. These are the origins from which legal rules and principles are derived. Understanding rettarheimildirnar is fundamental to comprehending how the Icelandic legal system operates and how legal decisions are made.

The primary source of law in Iceland is legislation, known as lög. These laws are enacted by the Althing, Iceland's parliament, and cover a wide range of subjects. Court decisions, or dómsorð, also play a significant role, particularly those from the Supreme Court (Haestiréttur). These judicial precedents help interpret and apply existing legislation and can, in effect, create new legal principles.

Another important category is customary law, or venjur. While less prominent than in some other legal systems, established customs can still influence legal interpretations, especially in areas where legislation is silent or ambiguous. International treaties ratified by Iceland are also considered a source of law, becoming binding upon domestic incorporation. Furthermore, legal scholarship, or lögfræði, contributes by analyzing and commenting on the law, which can indirectly influence legal development and judicial reasoning. The interplay of these various rettarheimildirnar shapes the body of Icelandic law.