Specialdomstolssystemet

Specialdomstolssystemet refers to the system of specialized courts designed to handle particular subject areas or types of cases within a country's judiciary. The aim is to provide judges with advanced expertise, ensure more consistent application of complex rules, and improve case processing times by tailoring procedures to the needs of specific fields. Specialized courts can be standalone institutions or divisions within general courts, and their jurisdiction is defined by statute. Panels may include legally trained judges and, in some cases, expert members with technical or professional qualifications. Appeals may follow a separate track from ordinary courts.

Common areas covered by special courts include tax and social security, labor relations, commercial and civil matters such as patent, trademark and competition law, administrative and environmental law, immigration, and family or juvenile matters in some jurisdictions. The organization varies widely: some countries operate dedicated tax or administrative courts with specialized procedures; others maintain general courts with specialized chambers or tribunals.

Proponents argue that special courts enhance expertise, predictability, and efficiency in areas with technical complexity or heavy caseloads. Critics raise concerns about access to justice, potential inconsistency across specialized rulings, and the risk of creating a two-tier judiciary if not properly integrated with general legal safeguards.

In Sweden, notable examples include arbetsdomstolen (Labor Court) for labor disputes, marknadsdomstolen (Market Court) for competition and marketing law, and Patent- och marknadsdomstolen (Patent and Market Court) for IP and competition matters.