Functions of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court exercises judicial power as the final instance in civil and criminal matters and supervises the judicial procedure within its field of competence. The Supreme Court is the court for precedents. Precedents are issued on issues on which the law does not provide a clear answer. Precedents provide legal guidance for similar disputes in the future and aim to ensure that courts across the country interpret the law in the same way.

Decisions of courts of appeal and district courts as a land court, as well as certain decisions of the Insurance Court and Market Court may be appealed against to the Supreme Court, provided that the Supreme Court grants leave to appeal.

In cases in the nature of a precedent, decisions of district courts may be appealed against directly to the Supreme Court. The precondition in this case, too, is that Supreme Court grants leave to appeal.

Decisions given by courts of appeal as the court of first instance can usually be appealed against to the Supreme Court without requesting leave to appeal.

The Supreme Court also decides cases concerning extraordinary appeals. The Supreme Court may reverse or annul the final decisions of courts on the grounds provided in Chapter 31 of the Code of Judicial Procedure. The Supreme Court may restore the right of appeal after the expiration of a specified period of time.

The Supreme Court gives advice to the President of the Republic in cases concerning his/her right to grant a pardon, and to the Ministry of Justice in cases concerning extradition. The President of the Republic may consult the Court in respect of Bills passed by Parliament and Provincial Acts adopted by the Åland Legislative Assembly before ratifying them. The Supreme Court may also approach the Government on its own initiative, and propose enactment of a new Parliament Act or an amendment to an existing Act.
The Supreme Court may further provide legal opinions on Government Bills at different stages of the legislative process.

Provisions on the functions of the Supreme Court are laid down mainly in the Constitution of Finland, the Supreme Court Act and the Code of Judicial Procedure.‍ The Supreme Court has also issued its Rules of Procedure.

The Supreme Administrative Court exercises judicial power as the final instance in administrative judicial procedure matters.