Association Internationale des Hautes Juridictions Administratives
International Association of Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions

Norway

Mrs Toril Marie Øie
 - Chief Justice
1, Høyesteretts plass, Regjeringskvartalet, St. Hanshaugen, Oslo, 0180, Norvège

1. Composition and structure

Number of members:

1 Chief Justice, 19 Justices.

Recruitment procedures and incompatibilities:

All justices are appointed for life by the King in Council upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Justice. The statuatory retirement age is 70, but with the right to retire from 67 years of age.

Internal organization:

The Supreme Court is presided over by the Chief Justice. Each case is heard by five judges. The Court works in two parallel divisions. A few cases are heard by the whole Supreme Court in plenary session or by eleven judges in Grand Chamber.
In the Appeals Selection Committee of the Supreme Court, cases are heard by three judges. Judges sit in both divisions and on the Appeals Selection Committee in accordance with a rota system.
The proceedings of the Supreme Court are usually oral and conducted in open court. However, there is no immediate presentation of evidence or testimony by witnesses or parties, nor does the Supreme Court conduct outside judicial inspections. Proceedings before the Appeals Selection Committee are in writing and decisions are rendered on the basis of the documents in the particular case.
The office of the Supreme Court is headed by a Secretary General. The judicial secretariat comprises 17 law clerks, including a senior law clerk.

Publications:

Decisions rendered by the Supreme Court and the Appeals Selection Committee of the Supreme Court are published in the Norwegian Law Gazette and the Lovdata information system. Short summaries of the Supreme Court's latest decisions (in English as well) are published on Internet at : www.hoyesterett.no

2. Jurisdictional attributions and advice

Court functions

Jurisdiction:

The Supreme Court hears both civil and criminal cases and has authority in all areas of law.

Organization of the court system:

The Supreme Court is Norway's highest court and its jurisdiction encompasses the entire country.
Norway does not have a special administrative court system. Cases in these fields of law are dealt with by the ordinary court system.
According to the legal order there are three court instances. But no appeal may be brought before the Supreme Court without the consent of the Appeals Selection Committee.

Powers of the judge:

In administrative appeal cases, as in other civil appeals, the Supreme Court has full jurisdiction.
The courts, headed by the Supreme Court, are empowered to review whether Government decisions comply with the law and whether legislation adopted by the Storting (Parliament) is constitutional.

Advisory functions

Existence and extent of an advisory authority:

According to the Constitution, the Parliament may obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court on points of law. Such opinions will only be advisory to the Parliament, and the possibility is seldom used.

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2024