The courts are independent and exercise judicial power independently. They decide in each case what is in accordance with the law. No outside party can intervene in the decision-making of the courts.
In addition to the courts, the judicial system comprises of
Even though the police are not part of the judicial system, they are responsible for conducting the pre-trial investigation, which is the first stage in the judicial investigation of an offence. The police also have the right to impose fines. Most of the sentences are imposed as fines without a court decision.
Finland's court system is divided by region and court instance.
Finland has 20 district courts, which deal with criminal cases, civil cases and petitionary matters in the first instance. Their decisions can be appealed against to one of Finland's five courts of appeal. A decision of a court of appeal can be appealed against to the Supreme Court if the Supreme Court grants a leave to appeal. In some cases, the Supreme Court may also resolve the matter directly, without it having been considered by lower courts.
Finland has six regional administrative courts, which consider appeals against decisions by authorities and legal disputes between the authorities in the first instance. Åland also has its own administrative court. A decision of an administrative court can be appealed against to the Supreme Administrative Court.
The Market Court, the Labour Court and the Insurance Court each deal with matters within their own special field. A decision of the Market Court can be appealed against to the Supreme Administrative Court or, in some cases, the Supreme Court. The decisions of the Labour Court and the Insurance Court cannot usually be appealed against. The exceptions include a small number of matters decided by the Insurance Court that can be appealed against to the Supreme Court.