Rules of procedure for the Appeals Selection Committee

§ 1 The Chief Justice appoints justices to the Supreme Court’s Appeals Committee upon the proposal of the Secretary-General.

§ 2 The justices serve on the Committee for a period of 4–6 weeks. The duration of the period may be deviated from during court holidays or when special circumstances so warrant.

§ 3 Five justices are normally appointed to the Committee. When the workload or practical considerations so require, the Chief Justice may decide that more than five justices shall be appointed. He or she may also appoint a separate Committee to consider a comprehensive case, or possibly several cases that should be considered in context. During court holidays, three justices are normally appointed.

The Chief Justice presides over the Committee when he or she is a member. Otherwise, the justice with the longest seniority presides. 

§ 4 When appointing justices, consideration is given to ensuring that they serve on the Committee equally often over time, and that the composition of the panel vary.

§ 5 The allocation of cases shall be conducted in such a way that it is random which of the Committee’s justices are assigned to each case, and which judge receives the case first. The presiding justice may make exceptions to this when the Committee is considering cases that are particularly labour-intensive, or when other compelling reasons so warrant. 

If there is not a sufficient number of unbiased justices on the Committee to consider a case, the Secretary-General appoints – in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Chief Justice – the necessary number of justices in the individual case.

§ 6 When it is urgent decide a case, and the Committee is not in session, the Chief Justice, or the justice with the longest seniority available, appoints a Committee to consider the case.