Stöðvunarmál

Stöðvunarmál is an Icelandic term used to describe matters in which a process is temporarily halted. The word combines stöðvun, meaning suspension or stopping, with mál, meaning case or matter. In legal and administrative language, stöðvunarmál can refer to a wide range of proceedings where an action is paused, deferred, or put on hold during review, appeal, or compliance assessment.

In court, stöðvunarmál may arise when a case is stayed pending further information, an interlocutory decision, or until a higher court resolves an appeal. In administrative settings, agencies may designate certain actions as stöðvunarmál while awaiting changes in policy, parallel proceedings, or judicial rulings. The designation typically specifies the scope, duration, and conditions for resumption.

Procedure usually involves an application by a party or a decision by the relevant authority, followed by a formal order that outlines the terms of the suspension. The duration can be fixed or conditional, and extensions may be possible through appeal or new submissions.

Impact can affect deadlines, enforceability, and the rights and obligations of parties. Stöðvunarmál occur in areas such as criminal procedure, administrative enforcement, procurement, and planning or zoning reviews. The concept emphasizes temporary pause rather than final disposition, and it sits alongside related instruments such as stay of proceedings or conditional suspensions.

See also: stay of proceedings, suspension, Icelandic civil procedure.