Bergen District Court


Bergen District Court is a district court serving the city of Bergen and the surrounding Nordhordland, Midhordland, and Voss regions in Vestland county, Norway. The court is based in the city of Bergen at the Bergen Tinghus at Tårnplads 2 in Bergen. The court covers the municipalities of Gulen, Fedje, Austrheim, Masfjorden, Modalen, Alver, Askøy, Øygarden, Osterøy, Vaksdal, Voss, Austevoll, Bjørnafjorden, Samnanger, and Bergen. The court is subordinate to the Gulating Court of Appeal, the appeals court for the counties of Vestland and Rogaland.
The court was originally just the civil and criminal court for the city of Bergen. In 2006, it was merged with the Bergen byfogdembete which added the authority for bankruptcy, probate, property and other types of cases. Then on 1 January 2017, the Nordhordland District Court was merged with it, vastly expanding the area of its jurisdiction.
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 Frostating Court of Appeal.

Courthouse

Bergen Tinghus was designed by architect Egill Reimers in a neoclassical style during 1933 and it is considered one of his main works. The brick building has 25 courtrooms covering six floors plus basement and loft. At the main entrance on Tårnplass, there are four granite statues representing the cardinal virtues: wisdom, justice, moderation and strength. The sculptures were designed by artists Nic Schiøll and Stinius Fredriksen.

Gallery