tuomioistuin

Tuomioistuin is the Finnish term for a court or the judiciary as a whole. It denotes a body that issues judgments and settles disputes under the law. The word combines tuomio (judgment) with istuin (seat or institution), and is used both for individual courts and for the system of courts in Finland.

In Finland, tuomioistuin encompasses the general courts, administrative courts, and specialized tribunals dealing with public-law matters. The general court structure includes district courts (käräjäoikeudet) at first instance, Courts of Appeal (hovioikeudet) for appeals, and the Supreme Court (Korkein oikeus) as the final court of appeal on points of law. The administrative court system handles administrative disputes and is headed by the Supreme Administrative Court (Korkein hallinto-oikeus); first-instance administrative cases are heard in one or more hallinto-oikeudet.

Judges preside cases in tuomioistuin, and proceedings are intended to be independent from other branches of government. Courts resolve civil and criminal matters, as well as family, commercial, and administrative disputes, with decisions that may be appealed to higher courts according to statute and procedural rules. In addition to individual courts, the term tuomioistuin can be used to refer to the Finnish judiciary as a whole.

Overall, the Finnish tuomioistuin operates as an independent, hierarchical system designed to apply the law impartially, ensure due process, and provide a remedy to those who seek resolution of legal disputes.