What matters are dealt with by the court of appeal?

In addition, the courts of appeal deal with matters concerning charges for offences in office at first instance.

The court of appeal also participates in the selection process of judges by issuing a statement to the Judicial Selection Board on the appointment of a judge to the court of appeal and to the district court within its jurisdiction.

Each year, the court of appeal also issues several opinions on legislative projects.

It is also the duty of the court of appeal to supervise the operation of the district courts within its jurisdiction in general.

The Helsinki Court of Appeal has special tasks that other courts of appeals do not have. These include:

• military trials
• some international family law and child abduction matters
• matters concerning the conditional release of persons sentenced to life imprisonment and serving the entire sentence in the penal institution
• certain matters concerning charges of for offenses in office
• appeals in matters concerning offences of treason and offences of high treason, and
• appeals concerning disciplinary matters of the Finnish Bar Association and licensed attorneys

Court mediation is also available in civil cases before the court of appeal. You can find more information on mediation here .

This is how matters are decided

If a party is dissatisfied with the decision of the district court, he or she may usually appeal to the court of appeal. If a party wishes that the decision of the district court should be changed, he or she shall declare his or her intent to appeal the decision of the district court within seven days from the date of the decision.

In most cases, proceedings before the court of appeal require a further hearing permit granted by the court of appeal. If necessary, the court of appeal shall request a response from the opposing party to the appeal. If the court of appeal seizes the appeal, the trial in the court of appeal shall deal with the matter which was the subject of the decision of the district court in so far as it has been invoked in the appeal and in the reply. The court of appeal examines whether and how the decision of the district court needs to be changed.

The court of appeal shall decide, either on the basis of written evidence, in a written procedure or in the main hearing of the court of appeal, where the parties and witnesses may also be heard. The court of appeal decides matters in sessions usually attended by three judges and an assistant judge.

In turn, judgments and decisions given by the court of appeal as an appeal court may be appealed by requesting the leave to appeal from the Supreme Court. In such cases, an appeal document addressed to the Supreme Court, including an application for leave to appeal and an appeal, shall be submitted to the registry of the court of appeal and not directly to the Supreme Court within the time limit.

Decisions given by the court of appeal at first instance may be appealed to the Supreme Court without a leave to appeal.

Compositions of the court of appeal

As a rule, three judges participate in the deliberation of a decision at the court of appeal. One of them may be a trainee judge. In cases of fundamental importance, the court of appeal may decide on the matter with seven members, i.e. in a reinforced composition or among all its judges, i.e. in plenary session.

There are no lay judges at the court of appeal.

However, in addition to judges, there are two military members deciding on military trials.

One judge may decide on preparatory issues and make some of the decisions listed separately in the law. These include matters concerning the granting of legal aid and the appointment of a legal counsel, as well as certain urgent and temporary decisions.