The Asker and Bærum District Court
The Courts of Norway have the role as third power of the State, prescribing them the duty to monitor the powers of the legislative and the executive. It is a fundamental right for anyone to have their case considered by an impartial and independent court.
As a court of law, Asker and Bærum District Court has the duty and obligation to reach a decision in all the individual cases brought before it. The cases brought into the court system in Norway are divided as to whether they concern criminal law or civil law.
Criminal law mostly involves the rules laid down by the state for individual citizens, while civil law governs the relationships and transactions between citizens and between companies.
The Asker and Bærum Distict Court serves the local authorities Asker and Bærum.
The Court’s decisions may be appealed to Borgarting Court of Appeal.
Other duties
Duties carried out by the Courts of Justice also include: probate cases, estate settlements, (joint property, bankruptcy etc.), partnership registrations, and notarial transactions.
Staff
The judicial staff consists of 13 appointed professional judges and 2 deputy judges. The president of the court appoints deputy judges for a period of up to about two years. The judges divide their time between criminal cases and civil cases.
The administrative staff counts 20 employees. The president of the district court is called "sorenskriver”, while an administrative director is leader of the administrative staff.
Cases
In 2006 the court dealt with approximately 397 criminal cases with laymen, 898 summary procedures (confession cases, remand in custody etc.) and 559 civil cases.
The Government has set maximum standards for the duration of time from a case has been brought before the court until a decision has been made. The standard is 3 months for criminal cases (with laymen) and 6 months for civil cases. Asker and Bærum District Court reaches this standard both in the criminal and civil cases.
Contact information:
Asker og Bærum tingrett
Email: abtingrett@domstol.no
Telephone: 67 57 65 00
Fax: 67 57 65 57
Adress: Postboks 578,1302 SANDVIKA
More information about the courts of Norway at the English pages at: http://www.domstol.no/