Réttarreglum

Réttarreglum, the plural of réttarregla, is a term used in Icelandic law to denote general rules of law that guide the interpretation, application, and development of legal norms. A réttarregla is a normative statement about how law works, prescribing, permitting, or prohibiting certain conduct and setting out the criteria by which other rules are judged.

Réttarreglur are not statutes in themselves. They arise from binding legal sources such as legislation, case law, and accepted doctrine, and they can also reflect established customary practice. They function to fill gaps in written law, resolve ambiguities, and harmonize the legal system by providing overarching principles that govern how laws are applied.

They can be broadly categorized as substantive rules, which regulate rights and duties, or procedural rules, which guide how legal processes are conducted. They are often aligned with fundamental principles such as good faith in dealings, equality before the law, due process, proportionality, and legal certainty. These general principles help courts interpret statutes, assess the fairness of outcomes, and determine the appropriate scope of legal remedies.

In practice, réttarreglum play a crucial role in interpretation and decision-making. Judges appeal to these general rules to clarify meaning, resolve conflicts between norms, and evaluate the proportionality and reasonableness of administrative or penal measures. While formal statutes remain the primary sources of law, réttarreglum provide essential interpretive and normative guidance that supports a coherent legal framework.

See also: law, statute, case law, jurisprudence, legal doctrine, general principles of law.