[1][2] As the largest district court in Norway, it handles about 20% of all cases in the country.

[3] It is led by a chief justice (sorenskriver), and has 100 appointed professional and deputy judges.

Its judicial duties are mainly to settle criminal cases and to resolve civil litigation as well as bankruptcy.

The court also has a witness support program in cooperation with Oslo Red Cross.

This allows the parties to find a middle ground they are both satisfied with, without creating winners and losers.

The bailiff's court had jurisdiction over probate, bankruptcy, notary public, missing persons, some taxes, marriage, families, and other topics.