Réttslagsmiða

Réttslagsmiða is the Icelandic term for an official credential issued in connection with legal proceedings, typically functioning as a pass or badge that identifies a person’s role and authorizes access to court facilities or proceedings. It is used to designate participants and authorized observers within the judicial process, such as judges, lawyers, witnesses, court staff, journalists, and other admitted persons. The issuance is typically by the court administration or police, depending on jurisdiction, and is tied to a specific case or proceeding and a defined time period.

A rettslagsmiða contains the holder’s name, role or affiliation, the case number, the venue and date, and an expiration or validity period. Security features may include an official seal, signature, photograph, or barcode to prevent forgery and to facilitate quick verification.

Historically, rettslagsmiða has been used to control access to courtrooms and to streamline movement within the courthouse. In modern practice many jurisdictions have moved toward digital or electronic passes, or rely on standard identification documents and electronic screening, reducing or replacing paper badges.

In the Icelandic context the term may appear in historical records or legal discussions about court access and administration. For those studying comparative criminal procedure, rettslagsmiða illustrates how access control and participant identification have long been a component of court security.