The Sunnhordland 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, Sunnhordland 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 Sunnhordland Distict Court serves the local municipalities Bømlo, Etne, Fitjar, Kvinnherad, Stord, Sveio and Tysnes.
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 2 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 approximately equally between criminal cases and civil cases.
The administrative staff counts 5 employees. The “sorenskriver” is the president of the district court.
Cases
In 2006 the court dealt with approximately 150 criminal cases with laymen, 220 summary procedures (confession cases, remand in custody etc.) and 100 civil cases.
Contact information:
Email: sunnhordland.tingrett@domstol.no
Telephone: 53 45 60 60
Fax: 53 45 60 61
Adress: Postboks 54, Postnummer: 5401, Norway
Location: Vidsteensvegen 11, 5417 Stord
More information about the courts of Norway.