Sogn tingrett is a 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, Sogn tingrett 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 Sogn Distict Court serves the local municipalities Aurland, Luster, Lærdal, Sogndal, Årdal, Vik, Balestrand and Leikanger.
The Court’s decisions may be appealed to Gulating 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 two appointed professional judges and BB deputy judges. The president of the court appoints deputy judges for a period of up to about two years. The judges divide their time approximately equally between criminal cases and civil cases.
The administrative staff counts three employees.
Cases
In 2006 the court dealt with approximately 78 criminal cases with laymen, 104 summary procedures (confession cases, remand in custody etc.) and 49 civil cases.
More information about the courts of Norway at: http://www.domstol.no/