Welcome to Oslo Courthouse Monumental Open door building The Oslo Courthouse is situated The Oslo architect firm Østgaard in the heart of Oslo. Most of the A.S has created a contemporary court hearings are public, and the monumental building that com- Courthouse is open to visitors. municates the function and significance of the Courthouse. Oslo District Court and Oslo County Court, the two first-level courts in Light, untreated granite covers the Oslo, are both located here. main façade towards C.J. Hambros plass. Borgarting Court of Appeal is just two blocks away in Keysersgate 13. Twenty-four simple square The Supreme Court is also situated ornaments of white marble from in the immediate neighbourhood, at Fauske in northern Norway, created Høyesteretts plass 1. by the sculptor Øivind Åstein, adorn the wall. A variety of activities Eight corresponding ornaments are located on the foundation wall, The Courthouse buzzes with marking the framework of the activity. Some cases are difficult or building. challenging, some constructive or clarifying. Many people find help in solving financial problems here. The happiest visitors are probably those who marry in the ceremony room of this building. Lex Portalis - the Renovation and gateway to the law reorganisation Inside the revolving doors of Oslo Oslo Courthouse was constructed in Courthouse your first impression is 1994. that of Lex Portalis, two walls covered by dark porcelain boards reaching Extensive renovation of the building’s right up to Level 6. interior took place in 2005 - 2006, affecting every single floor and a Ole Lislerud, a renowned Norwegian quarter of the total interior. sculptor, is responsible for the interior The renovation was motivated by the decoration of the Courthouse. need for additional courtrooms and negotiation rooms. Parts of the Norwegian Constitution and the Law of Magnus Lagabøte For the same reason, Borgarting (year 1200 AD) are shown in his Court of Appeal moved out of the handwriting on the boards. Courthouse in 2005. Law, Justice and Mercy Under the same roof The sculptor Ole Lislerud has placed In 2006, Oslo Court of Enforcement and small ceramic sculptures in wall Notary Public and Oslo Probate niches on the four top floors. Court & City Recorder were merged into one court under the new name of Their titles are related to activities in Oslo County Court. the building, such as “Upstander of Since then the two first-level courts in the law”, “Judge in armchair”, Oslo have been located under the same “Unicorn - Law, justice and mercy”, roof in Oslo Courthouse. “Divorce” and “Life together”. Two first-level courts are located under Ceramic sculptures by the sculptor Ole the same roof in Oslo Courthouse.. Lislerud are placed in wall niches. Openness Most court hearings are open to the public. The interior design of the Courthouse emphasizes this openness, with many of the courtrooms having windows facing the atrium. Educational visits Many students visit the Courthouse. They come from secondary schools or more advanced courses such as journalism or law studies. Most days there are students attending court sessions. The Courthouse staff do their best to make such visits as educational as possible. More information You can read more about the Norway’s courts on the Internet: www.domstol.no Oslo District Court and Oslo County Court also have informative websites: www.domstol.no/otir www.domstol.no/obyf Oslo District Court Resolving conflicts Oslo District Court is the largest court in Norway. The court handles When two or more parties disagree, a court solution can help resolve their one fifth of all civil and criminal cases in the country. conflict. Each year more than 2000 civil actions are settled atthis court. Crime and Punishment Court Mediation Every year, Oslo District Court hands Programme down approximately 5000 criminal It is often wise to resolve a conflict sentences. as early as possible. One out of five civil disputes is resolved through a In Norwegian criminal procedure, there mediation procedure. is extensive use of lay judges. The main objective is to find the middle ground and a solution that The Norwegian Government has both parties can accept. In the end determined that a case must take no Instead of a normal main hearing, the court there is no winner or loser, as is the more than three months from it is can call the parties in for court conciliation. case in traditional civil procedures. brought before the court until a decision Settling a dispute through mediation is made. Oslo District Court generally usually reduces time and costs for the handles its cases well within this limit. parties. Witness support Family conflicts A confident witness is a good Disagreements between parents witness, contributing to a correct concerning visitation rights and verdict. A witness support office custody often lead to intense conflicts. is located on Level 2 of the Oslo District Court makes active use Courthouse. of family experts in the mediation programme for these cases. The staff’s job is to provide the witnesses with practical help, During the mediation process the information and emotional support. family can consider different solutions, The main purpose of the witness and hopefully find one that satisfies all Family experts are used in mediation support service is to reinforce the parties. This is also the best guarantee concerning visitation rights and custody. legal rights and duties of all parties. that everyone will comply with the ©iStockphoto.com/Imgorthand The witness support service helps to create agreement reached. confident witnesses. Oslo County Court Distributing assets Many circumstances may lead people to Oslo County Court. In Oslo County Court, resolutions are often made through court mediation. Legal enforcement Division of estate Legal enforcement is appropriate in a Deaths are reported to Oslo County number of situations. If a tenant does Court, which also grants probate of not meet his obligations as stated in the will. the tenancy agreement, the owner may If the inheritors disagree on the request his eviction. settlement of the deceased’s estate, Demands for compulsory sale of real they can seek public division of the estate due to non-payment of rent, inherited estate. loans or taxes are other examples. Oslo County Court also handles public Many court decisions are made in Oslo division of marital property upon County Court. Oslo County Court handles public division divorce. In these cases, Oslo County Bankruptcy of marital property upon divorce. Court attempts to resolve disputes through court mediation. Oslo County Court handles bankruptcy Court injunction and insolvency proceedings. If you can make a claim plausible A petition for bankruptcy or insolvency and there is an urgent need to proceedings can be submitted either by Notary Public secure this claim, you can demand a creditor or the debtor himself. A basic a court injunction. These cases are Oslo County Court is designated to carry requirement for opening proceedings is handled in a matter of out the functions of a Notary Public. that the debtor is insolvent. hours if need be. If you need an official verification of a document or a signature, this is the Debt right place to go. settlement The Notary Public also performs civil marriages. In the ceremonial room on If you are incapable Level 2 of Oslo Courthouse you may marry of paying your debts in a before the registrar. Approximately 1 500 long-term perspective, an enforced couples are married here each year. debt settlement can be arranged by the Court. The Ceremonial Room, situated on Level 2 of the Courthouse. Opening hours Main entrance: 7.45 am – 6 pm Reception: 7.45 am – 3.45 pm*­ *­3 pm in summer Tram/Tube The tram number 11, 17 and 18 stops close by the Courthouse. The nearest tube station is Stortinget, a five-minute walk from the Courthouse. Cafeteria The cafeteria is located on Level 2. Opening hours: Monday – Thursday 8 am – 2.15 pm Friday 8 am – 1.15 pm Parking Oslo Courthouse does not offer parking facilities, but there is a public pay parking lot under the Courthouse. Published by: Telephone: +47 22 03 52 00 E-mail: [email protected] Oslo Courthouse Administration Fax: +47 22 03 53 54 Internet: P.O.Box 8023 Dep., Visiting address: www.domstol.no/obyf 0030 Oslo C. J. Hambros plass 4, Oslo www.domstol.no/otir .