dómvald

Dómvald is a historical term from Old Norse and Icelandic legal language, literally meaning “judgment power” or “court authority.” The form is usually reconstructed as dómvaldr or dómvald, combining dóm (judgment, court) and vald (power, authority). It is attested in a small number of medieval Nordic sources, but it is not a widely used title, and its exact meaning and scope appear to have varied by region and period.

In function, a dómvald would have acted as a local judicial official or magistrate responsible for overseeing a court, enforcing judgments, and resolving disputes within a district. The position could include presenting cases, maintaining order during hearings, and implementing sentences or fines. In some areas, the office resembled a regional magistracy that operated under more senior legal authorities, while in others it may have served as a community-level judge in assembly-based jurisprudence.

Today, dómvald is archaic and largely of interest to scholars of Norse and Icelandic legal history. Modern Icelandic distinguishes between dómari (judge) and other public offices, with dómvald appearing mainly in historical texts. The term is primarily of linguistic and philological significance rather than a standing office in contemporary law.

See also: dómari, lögsögumaður.