tingsrätter

The term "tingsrätter" refers to the district courts in Sweden, which are the primary level of courts in the country's three-tiered judicial system. This system also includes intermediate courts of appeal (hovrätter) and the Supreme Court (Högsta domstolen).1

A distinctive feature of Swedish district courts is the inclusion of lay assessors (nämndemän) on the bench, particularly for more serious criminal and family law cases. These lay assessors, along with a legally trained judge, form the panel that hears these cases. This differs from the jury systems found in Anglo-American or continental European legal traditions.1

Modern Swedish law has evolved significantly from the National Law Code of 1734, with much of the original text replaced by contemporary legislation. Collaboration with other Nordic countries has also played a role in shaping civil law in Sweden.12