Vestre Finnmark District Court

Vestre Finnmark District Court (Norwegian: Vestre Finnmark tingrett) is a district court located in northern Norway. This court is based at two different courthouses which are located in Alta and Hammerfest. The court serves 7 municipalities in the eastern part of Finnmark county and Kvænangen Municipality in Troms county. The court in Alta accepts cases from the municipalities of Alta, Loppa, and Kvænangen. The court in Hammerfest accepts cases from the municipalities of Hasvik, Hammerfest, Måsøy, Nordkapp, and Porsanger. The court is subordinate to the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.[1][2]

Vestre Finnmark District Court
Vestre Finnmark tingrett
Courthouse in Hammerfest
Map
69°57′57″N 23°16′33″E / 69.96578°N 23.275862°E / 69.96578; 23.275862
Established26 April 2021
JurisdictionWestern Finnmark, Norway
LocationAlta and Hammerfest
Coordinates69°57′57″N 23°16′33″E / 69.96578°N 23.275862°E / 69.96578; 23.275862
Appeals toHålogaland Court of Appeal
WebsiteOfficial website

The court is led by a chief judge (sorenskriver) and several other judges. The court is a court of first instance. Its judicial duties are mainly to settle criminal cases and to resolve civil litigation as well as bankruptcy. The administration and registration tasks of the court include death registration, issuing certain certificates, performing duties of a notary public, and officiating civil wedding ceremonies. Cases from this court are heard by a combination of professional judges and lay judges.[3]

History

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This court was established on 26 April 2021 after the old Alta District Court, Hammerfest District Court, and a small part of Nord-Troms District Court (just Kvænangen Municipality) were all merged into one court. The new district court system continues to use the courthouses from the predecessor courts.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Om Vestre Finnmark tingrett" (in Norwegian). Vestre Finnmark tingrett. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Forskrift om inndelingen av rettskretser og lagdømmer". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). 12 April 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  3. ^ Gisle, Jon, ed. (14 February 2022). "Tingrett". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  4. ^ Gisle, Jon, ed. (26 April 2021). "Vestre Finnmark tingrett". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 20 February 2022.