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In Norway, the district court (Norwegian: tingrett, literally "thing court") is the first court instance, and handles both criminal and civil cases. The chief judge of a district court is the chief district judge (Norwegian: sorenskriver).

The ruling of the district court may be appealed to the next level of court, the court of appeal, and the court of appeal's ruling may in turn be appealed to the supreme court, but only in select cases of precedential relevance admitted by the supreme court. Thus the vast majority of court cases are decided on by the district court or the court of appeal.

The term tingrett for the district courts was introduced in 2002, replacing the previous terms city court (byrett) and district court (herredsrett). Historically the district courts outside the cities were known as sorenskriveri (office of a sorenskriver), and consisted of a single (chief) district judge and often one or two assistant judges. The district usually included multiple parishes/municipalities, and the district judge was typically the highest state official within his jurisdiction, with an almost all-encompassing area of jurisdiction and an important role in the regional state administration.

Criminal cases

Since August 1995, all criminal cases which go to court are tried at the district court first. Prior to this, the most serious cases were tried in the Court of appeal (lagmannsrett). Regular trials are usually held before a panel of three judges, one professional and two lay judges. In particularly difficult cases the bench may consist of five judges (two professional and three lay judges). Verdicts and sentences are determined by a majority vote, with the lay judges' votes counting the same as the professional judge. If there is a full confession, and the defendant agrees to it, the trial may be held before a single professional judge who hears the case and determines sentencing.

Civil cases

The district court is the second tier in most civil cases, the first tier being the conciliation board (forliksråd). Certain cases cannot be held at the conciliation board, including family law, patent and trademark issues, cases against the authorities, and cases where an independent complaints committee has issued an opinion. In addition, larger cases where both sides are representad by attorneys, and other cases where extrajudicial mediation have taken place, may bypass the conciliation board and go straight to the district court. The district court also hears appeals from the conciliation board.

Civil cases are normally held before a single professional judge, but either side can demand two lay judges be seated as well. In some cases the law demands that there be two lay judges with competence in the subject matter.

In 2021, there are 23 district courts in Norway.

References

1. "Informasjon angående straffesaker" (in Norwegian). Moss District Court. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
2. "Hva er forliksrådet?". Government.no (in Norwegian). Ministry of Justice and the Police. 16 January 2001. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
3. "Sivil sak" (in Norwegian). Norwegian National Courts Administration. 8 May 2006. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2009.

v t e Courts of justice of Norway
Supreme Court of Norway Appeals Selection Committee Courts of Appeal District Courts
	Borgarting Court of Appeal	Oslo District Court Buskerud District Court Ringerike, Asker og Bærum District Court Follo og Nordre Østfold District Court Søndre Østfold District Court
	Eidsivating Court of Appeal	Romerike og Glåmdal District Court Vestre Innlandet District Court Østre Innlandet District Court
	Agder Court of Appeal	Agder District Court Telemark District Court Vestfold District Court
	Gulating Court of Appeal	Hordaland District Court Haugaland og Sunnhordland District Court Sogn og Fjordane District Court Sør-Rogaland District Court
	Frostating Court of Appeal	Møre og Romsdal District Court Trøndelag District Court
	Hålogaland Court of Appeal	Helgeland District Court Indre og Østre Finnmark District Court Midtre Hålogaland District Court Nord-Troms og Senja District Court Salten og Lofoten District Court Vestre Finnmark District Court
	Special courts	Appeals Selection Committee Constitutional Court of the Realm (Impeachment) Industrial Disputes Tribunal Land consolidation Court Conciliation Board
	Former district courts in Norway (List) Agder Aust-Agder Aust-Telemark Flekkefjord Holmestrand Holt Horten Kragerø Kristiansand Larvik Lister Lyngdal Mandal Nedenes Nedre Telemark Nordre Vestfold Sand Sandefjord Skien and Porsgrunn Tinn and Heddal Tønsberg Vest-Telemark Vestfold Borgarting Asker and Bærum Drammen Eiker, Modum and Sigdal Follo Fredrikstad Halden Hallingdal Heggen and Frøland Indre Follo Kongsberg Moss Oslo Ringerike Sarpsborg Ytre Follo Eidsivating Eidsvoll Gjøvik Glåmdal Hadeland and Land Hedmarken Nedre Romerike Nord-Gudbrandsdal Nord-Østerdal Solør Sør-Gudbrandsdal Sør-Østerdal Toten Valdres Vinger and Odal Øvre Romerike Frostating Fosen Gauldal Inderøy Inntrøndelag Midt-Trøndelag Namdal Nordmøre Orkdal Romsdal Stjør- and Verdal Sunnmøre Søre Sunnmøre Sør-Trøndelag Trondheim Gulating Bergen Dalane Fjordane Hardanger Haugaland Haugesund Indre Sogn Jæren Karmsund Midthordland Nordfjord Nordhordland Ryfylke Sandnes Sogn Stavanger Sunnfjord Sunnhordland Voss Ytre Sogn Hålogaland Alstahaug Alta Brønnøy Hammerfest Indre Finnmark Lofoten Nord-Troms Ofoten Rana Salten Senja Tana and Varanger Trondenes Vardø Vesterålen Øst-Finnmark
Administration: National Courts Administration Ministry of Justice and the Police Supervisory Committee Norwegian court system law

• Law of Norway
• Courts in Norway