Expert lay judges

In many cases, the court will need expertise in particular subject areas. The court may then sit with expert lay judges. These are people who have expertise within various fields, such as psychology, economics, or construction.

Expert lay judges may be appointed in both civil disputes and criminal cases. Expert lay judges are appointed for the individual case. In certain cases, the court must sit with both expert lay judges and "regular" lay judges.

It is usually parties to the case who apply for appointment of expert lay judges, but the court may also appoint expert lay judges on its own initiative. In certain subject areas, in accordance with Section 72 of the Courts of Law Act, expert lay judges are appointed from the panels of expert lay judges within particular subject areas. Expert lay judges are often appointed from outside these panels.

Expert lay judges naturally make a special contribution with their particular expertise, but in other respects they have the same authority and responsibility as the professional judges in the case.

For expert lay judges, the same rules on impartiality apply as for professional judges. It is therefore important for lay judges who have been drawn for a case to notify the court as soon as possible if any issues such as kinship, relationships by marriage, friendship, business connections or other matters could cast doubt on their impartiality. This applies in relation to everybody who takes part in the case.

Expert lay judges are entitled to an allowance, currently NOK 1000 per day, or to cover their loss of earnings, which must then be documented. Expert lay judges are also entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses and a daily subsistence allowance. A link to more detailed information in Norwegian about the allowance and travel expense report appears under "Related information" on the right.