dómar

Dómar is the Icelandic term for formal decisions issued by courts in Iceland. It is the plural form of dómur, meaning a judgment or verdict, and it covers decisions in criminal, civil, family, administrative, and other court matters.

A dómur typically identifies the parties and the case, summarizes the relevant facts that the court has accepted, states the legal issues, and provides the court’s reasoning before delivering a verdict or order. In criminal cases the judgment may include a sentence or penalty; in civil cases it may grant remedies such as damages, declarations, or other obligations. Judgments can be delivered orally in court or issued in writing after hearings.

In Iceland, most judgments are subject to appeal to higher courts, notably Landsréttur (the Court of Appeal) and, in some cases, the Supreme Court (Hæstiréttur). Interim rulings or injunctions issued during proceedings can also be subject to review or appeal, depending on the nature of the order and the case.

Judgments become part of the public record and, once final, bind the parties. They may be cited in later cases and contribute to the development of case law and the interpretation of statutes. Public access to judgments is typically provided through official court reports or online databases.

Etymology: dómur derives from Old Norse domr, related to the concept of a decision or verdict. In everyday use, dómar are the canonical outputs of Icelandic courts that resolve disputes and determine rights and obligations.