Sogn og Fjordane District Court


Sogn og Fjordane District Court is a district court located in the town of Førde in Vestland county, Norway. Besides the main court in Førde, the court also maintains courtrooms in Nordfjordeid, Sogndalsfjøra, and Florø. The court serves 25 municipalities in the county including the municipalities of Aurland, Lærdal, Årdal, Luster, Sogndal, Leikanger, Vik, Balestrand, Solund, Hyllestad, Høyanger, Askvoll, Fjaler, Gaular, Naustdal, Førde, Jølster, Flora, Bremanger, Selje, Vågsøy, Eid, Hornindal, Stryn, and Gloppen. The court is subordinate to the Gulating Court of Appeal. The court is led by the chief judge Terje Mowatt. This court employs a chief judge, eight other judges, and eleven prosecutors.
The court was established on 1 July 2017 upon the merger two other courts: Fjordane District Court and Sogn District Court.
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. Cases from this district court may be appealed to the Gulating Court of Appeal.