today handed over the commission, which has been led by Oslo- “sorenskriver” Yngve Svendsen, his first subreport to the ministry of justice and innvandringsminister Jøran Kallmyr (progress party).
There they go it up how they see for themselves that the Norwegian tingrettsstrukturen should be in the future.
– the Commission considers it important that the independent courts of law, still is the mainstay of the rule of law, but then the quality will be high and the structure must facilitate it, ” says Svendsen.
Lawyer Trude Marie Wold on Sortland fear a rasering of the district courts in the Central Hålogaland region, which today consists of Vesterålen tingrett, Lofoten district court, in the Ofoten district court and the Trondenes district court.
– This is dramatic, ” says Wold, who is kretsleder for the lawyers in the Middle Hålogaland.
From 60 to 32 district courts
the Commission proposes a powerful centralization of the courts in all the counties. A number of small district courts proposed to be merged with the other and gathered in the larger cities.
In the proposal, states among other things that today’s 60 district courts is reduced to the 22 district courts with 30 rettssteder. And that the current 34 jordskifteretter be reduced to 13 jordskifterettskretser with a total of 20 manned rettssteder.
– It is dramatic. From before, we have neither the prison or barnehus. Now run the risk of the most densely populated area in Northern Norway and is left without a court.
Go out over the rule of law
Wold driver law firm in Sortland with a total of six employees. She thinks it is a paradox that the development of other areas of society goes in the opposite direction.
– We see that major companies are betting in Vesterålen. The government answers us with, to lay down the services to the people who live here.
She has seen it in the police, the Armed forces and the ambulance service.
Now is people lose access to legal aid, in its vicinity. It is human rights we’re talking about.
Vesterålen district court has kontorsted of Sortland in Nordland county and judicial district where includes the municipalities of Andøy, Bø in Vesterålen, Hadsel, Sortland and Øksnes.
Photo: Sigurd Steinum / NRK
140 flights in the year
Large parts of the population in this area can get a journey time of five-six hours in the dark vinterveier to get to Tromsø or Bodø.
Wold have told Advokatbladet about 140 enkeltflyreiser in 2018. The majority of these were to Bodø and Tromsø to the structured questioning at through improved prevention, as well as issues in the court of appeal and fylkesnemnda.
It is not unusual that she is gone two-three days a week. She has diamantkort in the SAS and a lifetime platinum card in the hotel chain Choice.
In Bodø I get a personal greeting from the hotel on my birthday, she told Advokatbladet.
Now fear she and her colleagues even more cold and dry weather.
– A things are the consequences for me personally and my family. But so are all my clients. Witnesses shall also be carried around, so it becomes an expensive affair.
Will fight
the Lawyers in Vesterålen has written a statement to the Domstolkommisjonen, where they express their concern.
– This is not settled. We’re not going to give us. We realize also that there must be any changes. But the answer is not closure.
Wold say it is a number of suggestions on the table for how the district courts can be more effective. Among other things, that the district courts get the common management and that the judges be mobile instead of being affiliated with a district court.
– finally, there are politicians in Parliament who will take the final position on how many courts we should have. But with the rule we have today – where it be centralised on all the hold, we are not very optimistic.
– commissioned
member of parliament Reed Mossleth (Sp) will keep the current domstolsstruktur.
Photo: Helge Lyngmoe / NRK
member of parliament Reed Mossleth (Sp) calls the proposal to cut the number of district courts a commission for the centralization of important jobs within the law and the right.
In addition will nedleggingene centralize people’s rule of law. Nordland needs the district courts which are in day.
She will work for the areas that are affected should not stand alone in the battle against to lose the district courts.
– Also the local politicians have to work against this proposal, but instead to fight for their own court so all must bet on to keep the current domstolsstruktur, says Mossleth.
– out of the question to support
the Proposal from the Domstolkommisjonen also meet with opposition in the government.
– It is out of the question for the christian democratic party has to support Domstolskommisjonens proposals for future structural change, switch justispolitisk spokesman Geir Toskedal in Progress fixed opposite NTB.
Thus, it is unlikely that the proposal currently on the table will get a majority in Parliament. So far also have the Ap and Sp notified that they are opposed to the measures in the commission’s report.
the Right justispolitiske spokesperson, Peter C. Frølich, responds on his side that the opposition parties Sp and Ap have shot down the proposal already before the report was submitted.
– instead of to reject everything on autopilot, will the Right work thoroughly with the report. It deserves the courts who have worked hard in the two years of this, ” he says.
Very disappointed
Volda-mayor Jørgen Amdam believes the proposal does not take into consideration the population’s needs.
Photo: Arne Flatin / NRK
another One that is very disappointed with the proposal is Volda-mayor Jørgen Amdam (Ap).
– I’m disappointed because it means that they take very little consideration to the need in the population, ” says Amdam.
the Proposal means for the county of Møre and Romsdal their part that Volda and Molde are laid down as rettssteder, whereas Kristiansund and Ålesund is maintained.
In a large extent they must be from our area when travel to Ålesund. It means, among other things, that many lawyers get much longer journey, ” says Amdam
