Southern Christian Advocate

COURT OF RECONCILEMENT

The most peculiar court of justice in Norway is that named "Forligelses-Commission," that is, Court of Reconcilement, or Arbitration. There is such a court in every parish; it consists of three persons, chosen by the parishioners, of whom the priest is almost invariably the chief, with the churchwardens or the lensman as his assessors. Every intended litigation must, in the first instance, be submitted to this commission before it can be brought into a higher court. The parties are there personally heard, no professional person being allowed to appear; their evidence is canvassed, and a statement eventually drawn up in which both parties agree, and sign. The assessors then endeavour to reconcile the parties, usually by proposing some middle course. If both submit to the arbitration, the decision is final. if one demurs, he can carry the case to the higher tribunal, but at the risk of having the expenses to pay should it decide against him; and in no case can any fresh facts be brought forward, other than what are contained in the protocol of this parish commission. Whether any modification of this institution could be beneficially adopted in a country like ours, I am not prepared to say; but I think there can be no doubt, that in a country like Norway it is productive of much more good than evil, as tending to cut short a great deal of litigation. Strict legal justice is very probably not so much aimed at by a tribunal so constituted, as equity and concord. -- Two Summers in Norway.