Criminal cases
Each year, the Oslo District Court handles between 4,000 and 5,000 criminal cases that result in a judgment. These may include:
- lay judge cases – where both professional judges and lay judges participate
- confession cases – where the defendant has admitted guilt
In addition, we process several thousand matters related to ongoing investigations, such as:
- searches and arrests
- telephone interception
- appointment of defence counsel
- pre-trial detention
- restraining orders
- suspension of driving licences
Civil disputes
The Oslo District Court hears more than 2,000 civil disputes each year, where the parties disagree about rights or obligations. Many cases are resolved through court‑annexed mediation.
We also serve as the designated venue (verneting) for certain types of cases, such as patent disputes, and for cases brought against the Norwegian state.
In addition, we have national responsibility for child abduction cases involving children brought to Norway from another country that is a party to the Hague Convention.
Other civil matters
We also handle a variety of civil matters, including:
- bankruptcy
- reconstruction
- debt settlement proceedings
- forced sale or dissolution of property
- public probate proceedings
Administrative matters
The Oslo District Court also carries out various administrative tasks, such as:
- notarial certifications
- registration of deaths
Professional specialisation
Society is becoming increasingly complex, and many court cases require specialised knowledge. The Oslo District Court aims to:
- provide efficient and professionally robust case handling
- meet users’ need for specialised competence
- be a reliable and preferred forum for dispute resolution
Judges in the Oslo District Court therefore specialise in different fields. We refer to this as moderate specialisation.
Moderate specialisation
Our judges have specialised competence in one or more areas of law, but they still handle other types of cases as well.
- Around 25% of the cases assigned to a judge fall within their area of specialisation.
- The remainder are varied, ensuring that judges maintain broad experience.
Examples of specialisation areas
Civil cases:
- construction and engineering disputes
- major commercial disputes
- patent and intellectual property law
- green appraisals (expropriation and compensation)
- court‑annexed mediation
Criminal cases:
- cases involving defendants under the age of 18
- preparation of large and complex criminal cases
- financial crime
Court trainees (dommerfullmektiger) and case officers are also part of the specialisation system. Their work includes:
- appointing counsel for victims during investigations
- child abduction cases
- appointment of defence counsel under special circumstances (Criminal Procedure Act § 100, second paragraph)
- paternity cases