The Standing Committee on Justice is reviewing the government's proposed amendments to the Courts Act, Criminal Procedure Act, and Dispute Act. The proposals aim to strengthen judicial independence by requiring that cases be allocated randomly among judges as a default rule, except where substantive grounds justify otherwise. The committee majority backs the government's proposal to allow recordings from district courts to be played during appeals when fair case handling permits, while a minority prefers this be optional rather than mandatory.
AI-generated summary · Model: Claude Haiku 4.5 · Generated: 14 May 2026
These are the proposals in the document, not decisions. See the votes for the outcome.
Section 3 of the Courts Act shall read: The Supreme Court sits in the nation's capital unless particular circumstances prevent it. The Court shall have one Chief Justice and nineteen other justices.
Section 4 of the Courts Act shall read: When the volume of cases requires it, the Supreme Court may, for cases to be decided by five justices, be divided into multiple divisions as determined by the Chief Justice. For cases to be decided by three justices, the Supreme Court may establish one or more committees, designated as Supreme Court Appeal Committees. The Chief Justice leads proceedings in divisions and committees and in cases heard in full court or plenary session in which she or he participates. Otherwise, the most senior justice present leads.
Section 6, first paragraph, first sentence of the Courts Act shall read: A decision that the Supreme Court shall have a composition other than that which follows from section 5, first paragraph, first sentence, shall be made by the Chief Justice before the case is assigned to a preparatory justice.
Section 6, third paragraph, first sentence of the Courts Act shall read: When a decision is made to hear a case in full court, the Chief Justice may instead determine that the decision shall be made by the Supreme Court in plenary session.
Section 8, first paragraph, first sentence of the Courts Act shall read: The Chief Justice leads the Court's business, sets the time for its sessions and the handling of cases, and distributes the business among the Court's members and, where applicable, its divisions and committees.
Section 8, second paragraph of the Courts Act shall read: Should the Chief Justice be unavailable, the most senior justice shall serve until another is appointed.
Section 11, fifth paragraph of the Courts Act shall read: Cases shall be allocated so that which judge receives a case for handling is random. The starting principle of random case allocation may be disregarded if substantive grounds warrant it, including to ensure a fair distribution of work among judges, or where particular expertise or experience is needed in a specific case. Reassignment of a case must be explained in writing if the judge originally assigned objects to the reassignment.
Section 19, fourth and fifth paragraphs of the Courts Act shall read: Where the volume of cases requires it, district courts may be divided into divisions as determined by the court administration. In such case, a judge may be appointed as head of each division. The court head distributes cases among divisions and determines judges' service assignments. The division head distributes cases among judges in the divisions. The first paragraph, second and third sentences apply similarly to divisions. The court head may authorize division heads to perform tasks assigned to the court head under other statutory provisions. Cases shall be allocated so that which judge receives a case for handling is random. The starting principle of random case allocation may be disregarded if substantive grounds warrant it, including to ensure a fair distribution of work among judges, or where particular expertise or experience is needed in a specific case. Reassignment of a case must be explained in writing if the judge originally assigned objects to the reassignment.
Section 20, first paragraph of the Courts Act is repealed.
Section 25, fourth paragraph of the Courts Act is repealed. Current fifth paragraph becomes fourth paragraph.
Section 25, fifth paragraph of the Courts Act shall read: Cases in district courts and land courts shall be heard at the court location in the part of the court district where the cases are geographically situated. When appropriate, cases may be heard at other fixed court locations in the district or held at places other than the fixed locations.
Section 33 c, second paragraph, fourth sentence of the Courts Act is repealed.
Section 331, fifth paragraph, first sentence of the Criminal Procedure Act shall read: The King may by regulation provide that recordings made under section 23 shall be played to wholly or partially substitute for direct testimony in court, when fair case handling does not militate against it.
Section 23-2, fourth paragraph, first sentence of the Dispute Act shall read: The King may by regulation provide that recordings made under section 13-7 shall be played to wholly or partially substitute for direct testimony in court, when fair case handling does not militate against it.
Section 24-1, fourth paragraph, first sentence of the Dispute Act shall read: The King may by regulation provide that recordings made under section 13-7 shall be played to wholly or partially substitute for direct testimony in court, when fair case handling does not militate against it.
Minority proposal from the Progress Party, Green Party, and Christian Democratic Party – Section 331, fifth paragraph, first sentence of the Criminal Procedure Act shall read: The King may by regulation provide that recordings made under section 23 may be played to wholly or partially substitute for direct testimony in court, when fair case handling does not militate against it.
Minority proposal from the Progress Party, Green Party, and Christian Democratic Party – Section 23-2, fourth paragraph, first sentence of the Dispute Act shall read: The King may by regulation provide that recordings made under section 13-7 may be played to wholly or partially substitute for direct testimony in court, when fair case handling does not militate against it.
Minority proposal from the Progress Party, Green Party, and Christian Democratic Party – Section 24-1, fourth paragraph, first sentence of the Dispute Act shall read: The King may by regulation provide that recordings made under section 13-7 may be played to wholly or partially substitute for direct testimony in court, when fair case handling does not militate against it.
Section 4 of the Act of 18 December 1959 no. 1 concerning mortification of debt certificates, etc., shall read: Section 4. Claims for mortification falling under Norwegian court jurisdiction shall be brought before Helgeland District Court.
Section 3-7, first paragraph, second sentence of the Act of 23 December 1988 no. 104 on product liability shall read: The aggregate settlement must be approved by judgment of Oslo District Court.
Section 4, first paragraph, second sentence of the Act of 10 December 2004 no. 82 on the Convention on International Railway Traffic shall read: Application for enforcement shall be directed to Oslo District Court.
Section 43 a, second paragraph, first sentence of the Act of 9 January 2009 no. 2 on control of marketing and contractual terms, etc., shall read: Application for provisional measures shall be submitted in writing to Oslo District Court.