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Composition
and structure
Number of
members :
1 Chief Justice, 18 Justices.
Recruitment
procedures and incompatibilities :
All justices are appointed for life by the King in Council upon
the recommendation of the Ministry of Justice. The statuatory retirement
age is 70, but with the right to retire from 67 years of age.
Internal
organization :
The Supreme Court is presided over by the Chief Justice. Each case
is heard by five judges. The Court works in two parallel divisions.
A few cases are heard by the whole Supreme Court in plenary session.
The Appeals Selection Committee of the Supreme Court is classed
as a separate court and cases are heard by three judges. Judges
sit in both divisions and on the Appeals Selection Committee in
accordance with a rota system.
The proceedings of the Supreme Court are usually oral and conducted
in open court. However, there is no immediate presentation of evidence
or testimony by witnesses or parties, nor does the Supreme Court
conducts outside judicial inspections. Proceedings before the Appeals
Selection Committee are in writing and decisions are rendered on
the basis of the documents in the particular case.
The office of the Supreme Court is headed by a director. The judicial
secretariat comprises 16 law clerks, including a senior law clerk.
Publications
:
Decisions rendered by the Supreme Court and the Appeals Selection
Committee of the Supreme Court are published in the Norwegian Law
Gazette and the Lovdata information system. Short summaries of the
Supreme Court's latest decisions ( in English as well) are published
on Internet at : www.domstol.no
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Court
functions
Jurisdiction
:
The Supreme Court hears both civil and criminal cases and has authority
in all areas of law.
Organization
of the courts system :
The Supreme Court is Norway's highest court and its juridiction
encompasses the entire country.
Norway does not have a special administrative court system. Cases
in these fields of law are delt with by the ordinary court system.
According to the legal order there are three courts instances. But
no appeal may be brought before the Supreme Court without the consent
of the Appeals Selection Committee.
Powers of
the judge :
In administrative appeal cases, as in other civil appeals, the Supreme
Court has full jurisdiction.
The courts, headed by the Supreme Court, are empowered to review
whether Government decisions comply with the law and whether legislation
adopted by the Storting (Parliament) is constitutional.
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Advisory
functions
Existence and extent of an advisory authority :
According to the Constitution, the Parliament may obtain the opinion
of the Supreme Court on points of law. Such opinions will only be
advisory to the Parliament, and the possibility is seldom used..
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