The Supreme Court's proceedings
All cases brought before the Supreme Court must first be considered by the Appeals Selection Committee. In addition to deciding appeals against orders, the Appeals Selection Committee functions as a filter for appeals against judgments. An appeal cannot proceed to the Supreme Court without the leave of the Appeals Selection Committee.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in Norway and a precedent court. The main role of the Supreme Court is, through its rulings, to ensure clarification and development of the law within the scope provided by the Constitution and by law. Appeals that raise issues of significance beyond the dispute itself often proceed to a hearing.
Division, grand chamber or the plenary
The cases are normally decided by a division of five justices. The proceedings in the Supreme Court take place in two parallel divisions. Cases that involve issues of particular importance may be heard by a grand chamber of eleven justices or by the plenary.
Oral and written procedure
The hearings in the Supreme Court are nearly always oral and open to the public. Evidence and testimonies are not presented directly as in cases in the lower instances. Nor does the Supreme Court perform out-of-court inspections.
In the Appeals Selection Committee, the procedure is written, and decisions and rulings are made based on the case documents.
The justice serve on a rotation basis in both the divisions and in the Committee.