The chief judicial officer of the court (Norwegian: førstelagmann) is currently Magni Elsheim (as of 2016).

This court is divided into judicial regions (Norwegian: lagsogn) and there is one or more district courts (Norwegian: tingrett) that belongs to each of these regions.

[2][4] The court has its historical roots originating with the Gulating, one of the first Norwegian legislative assemblies or Þing, which was established before the year 900.

A new court law went into effect on 1 January 1890 which re-established the Gulating Court of Appeal which included all of Bergen, Søndre Bergenhus, Nordre Bergenhus, and Romsdalen counties.

On 1 July 1936, the northern part of the jurisdiction (Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal) was separated to become the new Frostating Court of Appeal and the southern part continued as the Gulating Court of Appeal (using the old name again).