oikeuskäytön

Oikeuskäytön, meaning "legal practice" or "judicial practice" in Finnish, refers to the actual application and interpretation of laws by courts and other legal bodies. It encompasses the decisions made in individual cases and how these decisions contribute to the development and understanding of legal norms. While statutes provide the formal framework of the law, oikeuskäytön gives these statutes life and meaning in concrete situations.

The concept is closely related to case law in common law systems, although the Finnish legal system is primarily civil law. In Finland, the decisions of the Supreme Court (Korkein oikeus) and the Supreme Administrative Court (Korkein hallinto-oikeus) have significant persuasive authority and are closely followed by lower courts. These higher court decisions help to clarify ambiguous legal provisions, fill gaps in legislation, and ensure consistency in the application of the law across the country.

Oikeuskäytön is not static. As societal values and circumstances change, so too does the interpretation and application of laws. Legal scholars and practitioners analyze judicial decisions to identify trends and predict future legal developments. Understanding oikeuskäytön is therefore crucial for legal professionals, academics, and anyone seeking to comprehend how the law functions in practice. It is the dynamic process through which legal principles are tested, refined, and applied.