sérdómar

Sérdómar is an Icelandic term that translates to "special judgments" or "private laws." It refers to a legal concept that emerged in Iceland during the medieval period, particularly within the Old Icelandic Commonwealth (ca. 930–1262). Unlike general laws that applied to all members of society, sérdómar were specific rulings or legal precedents that were established by individuals or families and became binding within their particular spheres of influence or for specific groups.

These judgments often arose in situations where the general laws were insufficient or unclear, or when powerful chieftains (goðar) used their authority to settle disputes. They could also be established through customary practice that gained recognition over time. Sérdómar were not codified in the same way as statutory law but were passed down through legal tradition and memory. The existence of sérdómar highlights the decentralized nature of legal authority in the early Icelandic Commonwealth, where personal power and influence played a significant role in legal matters. The term itself indicates a departure from universally applicable legal norms, suggesting a localized or particularistic approach to justice. As the Icelandic Commonwealth evolved and eventually came under Norwegian rule, the system of sérdómar gradually diminished in importance, being replaced by more centralized legal structures.