NORWAY Law and Practice Contributed by: Knud Jacob Knudsen, Jenny Sandvig, Oda Lauksund Engamo and Nicholas Foss Barbantonis, Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig
7.6 Extent to Which Hearings Are Open to the Public Court hearings are normally open to the pub- lic. Exceptions from the main rule apply, inter alia, when consideration of the state’s relation to a foreign power requires it, for proceedings before a conciliation board, in cases concerning a duty of confidentiality and in cases concerning administrative decisions on coercive measures in the health and social services. 7.7 Level of Intervention by a Judge The judge has a duty to manage the case and the hearing. How detailed the control should be is up to the court. As the practical conditions for the execution of the main hearing will often be established in advance and discussed with the parties, it will normally be sufficient for the judge to ensure that the plan has been followed and otherwise clarify that everything is in place for a concentrated hearing. The court shall ensure that the main hearing pro- ceeds in a focused and proper manner without unnecessary delays. Proceedings on issues that are irrelevant to the case shall be denied, as will unnecessary repetition and unnecessarily broad proceedings. For regular proceedings, the main rule is that the judge, after the main hearing, closes the case for judgment. The ruling shall be pronounced with- in four weeks after the main hearing or appeal hearing has been concluded. If the case is heard by a single judge, the time limit is two weeks. If the case is so demanding that it is not possible to meet this time limit, the ruling may be pro- nounced later. The ruling shall state the reason for any delay in pronouncement. In cases that are tried after the small claims pro- cedure and heard orally, judgment shall be ren-
dered at the end of the court hearing if the judge finds reason to do so. Otherwise, judgment shall be rendered within one week after the parties have been informed that the case is closed for judgment. 7.8 General Timeframes for Proceedings The general timeframes for proceedings from commencement of claim through to trial vary depending on the legal institution and proce- dural form. For proceedings before a conciliation board, the meeting to hear the case should take place with- in three months after the complaint is submitted. For regular proceedings in the first instance, the main hearing shall be scheduled no more than six months after the date of submission of the writ of summons, unless special circumstances dictate otherwise. The same applies to appeals. Oral appeal hearings before a court of appeal and the Supreme Court must normally take place within six months after the appeal has been submitted to the court. According to the Dispute Act, the case shall nor- mally be concluded by judgment within seven months after the submission of the writ of sum - mons. For cases tried under the rules for small claims procedures, the timeframe for the hearing will normally be half a day and the case shall nor- mally be concluded by judgment within three months after the writ of summons was submit - ted.
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