The mission and role of the Swedish Courts

Legal security is about society taking responsibility for safeguarding people from becoming victims of crime. If someone’s life, health, liberty, integrity, or property is nevertheless violated, society shall take reasonable measures to ensure that the crime is solved, and the perpetrators are convicted.

For society to ensure legal certainty, laws, rules, and norms must be predictable. This means, for example, that no one shall be prosecuted or convicted without clear support in the law or sufficient evidence. Legal certainty also means that similar cases shall be treated alike and that everyone is equal before the law, regardless of, for example, nationality, gender or ethnic background.

The justice system includes the courts and the crime prevention and investigative authorities. This includes:

• Courts and tribunals
• The Swedish Crime Victim Authority
• The Swedish Economic Crime Authority
• The Swedish Prison and Probation Service
• The Swedish Police Authority
• The Swedish Security Service
• The Swedish Prosecution Authority

Other public authorities may also have tasks that fall within, or are connected to, the justice system. Examples of such authorities are the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine and the Enforcement Authority.

District Courts, Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court are called the General Courts. They issue decisions in criminal cases, civil cases and other matters. The Patent and Market Courts and the Land and Environment Courts also belong to the General Courts.

Administrative Courts, Administrative Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Administrative Court are called Administrative Courts. Administrative Courts decide disputes between individuals and authorities and disputes between companies and authorities. An appeal against a government authority’s decision, such as one concerning taxes or social insurance, is made to the Administrative Court.

The Migration Courts also belong to the Administrative Courts.

The Swedish Courts include over 80 courts, tribunals and authorities. The Courts of Sweden are located throughout the country and have approximately 7,500 employees.

The Swedish Courts also include the Rental and Tenancy Tribunals, the National Legal Aid Authority and the Swedish National Courts Administration. Just like the various courts, they are completely independent.

In Sweden, it is a fundamental right to have one’s case heard in a court. The task of the courts is to issue decisions in cases and matters in a manner that is legally certain and efficient.

An important principle is that the courts are autonomous and independent. This is regulated in Sweden’s constitution. Neither the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament), the Government nor any other authority may decide how a court should rule in an individual case.

You can receive general assistance from a court, for example on how to fill out an application for a summons in connection with a dispute, or if you want to know how court proceedings are conducted. You can also contact a court and request access to a judgement.

The courts do not provide legal advice. All of the court’s work is based on objectivity and impartiality; therefore, you cannot be given an answer on how a law may be interpreted in an individual case before the court has actually considered it. A law firm can help with these types of questions.

It is the Riksdag that decides which laws will apply in Sweden. The role of the courts is to issue judgements in accordance with applicable law.