hovrätt

Hovrätt, or Court of Appeal, is a higher Swedish court that functions as the second instance in most civil and criminal cases. It reviews decisions from the district courts (tingsrätt) within its geographic jurisdiction. Hovrätter aim to correct legal errors, assess evidentiary questions anew, and ensure consistent application of law across the country. In administrative law matters, certain decisions can also be brought to the hovrätt depending on the case type and applicable statutes.

Each hovrätt is organized into chambers and hears cases in panels that typically include several judges, known as hovrättsråd. In many criminal cases, lay judges (nämndemän) may participate alongside professional judges, depending on the scope of the case and statute. The court’s rulings can range from upholding lower court decisions to overturning them, or ordering new trials in some circumstances.

A party who loses in a tingsrätt generally has the right to appeal to the relevant hovrätt. To further appeal a hovrätt decision to the Supreme Court, the party must obtain prövningstillstånd (permission to appeal), which is granted only in certain circumstances, such as significant legal questions or major factual importance. Hovrätter also handle certain specialized matters, including some family law and tax cases, within their regional jurisdictions.

Sweden’s system includes several hovrätter distributed across the country, with Svea hovrätt in Stockholm and Göta hovrätt as two of the prominent examples. The hovrätts serve as an important bridge between local district courts and the Supreme Court, contributing to uniform interpretation of Swedish law and access to appellate review.