dómstóll

Dómstóll is the Icelandic word for a court, an institution empowered to administer justice by interpreting and applying laws to disputes and criminal cases. The term can refer to a particular court or to the judiciary as a whole. The etymology comes from dóm (judgment) and stóll (seat), signaling the seat of a judge.

In Iceland, the court system is hierarchical. District courts (héraðsdómstólar) act as the first instance in civil and criminal matters. Appeals are heard by Landsréttur (Court of Appeal), and the Hæstiréttur (Supreme Court) stands as the highest court. Some public-law matters may be resolved in specialized administrative or constitutional proceedings within the same framework.

Proceedings in dómstólar are conducted by panels of professional judges who determine questions of fact and law, guided by Icelandic statutes and constitutional principles. The decision-making process is subject to appeal, ensuring consistency and due process. The public nature of hearings and the publication of judgments are typical features.

The dómstóll is a core pillar of the Icelandic rule of law, upholding individual rights, ensuring proportional punishment in criminal cases, and providing a mechanism for resolving disputes between private parties and between citizens and the state. The independence of the judiciary is protected by constitutional provisions.