landsret

Landsret is the Danish term for a regional high court that forms part of the country’s judiciary. In the contemporary Danish system, the landsret functions as an intermediate appellate court for civil and criminal matters and, in some cases, acts as a court of first instance as defined by statute. The system currently comprises two landsret courts: Østre Landsret (Eastern High Court) and Vestre Landsret (Western High Court), which are responsible for hearing appeals from the district courts (byret) and for handling specified cases designated for first-instance proceedings.

The primary role of the landsret is to review judgments from byret for errors in law and, in many instances, for errors of fact that can be reconsidered on appeal. It therefore serves as a major step in ensuring uniform application of the law across Denmark. The courts hear a wide range of civil, criminal, and administrative matters, and their decisions contribute to setting legal precedents within the Danish legal framework.

Decisions rendered by the landsret can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Denmark (Højesteret), typically requiring leave to appeal. The landsret thus occupies a central position in the three-tier Danish court system, sitting between the district courts and the Supreme Court, and playing a key role in the interpretation and application of Danish law.