Judges

Individual cases before the Labour Court are presided over by seven judges: two of the court's permanent professional judges, one judge summoned from among the deputies for the professional judges, and four judges appointed based on nominations (recommendations) from the social partners.

The Labour Court consists of a president, a vice president, a third professional judge and four other judges. Deputy judges are also appointed. The three professional judges are senior civil servants. The other four judges and deputy judges are appointed by the King for terms of three years.

The deputy judges for the professional judges are appointed based on proposals from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and without being nominated by the social partners. The other four judges and their deputies are nominated by the employers’ associations and trade unions in accordance with more detailed provisions set out in Section 39 of the Labour Disputes Act. The Civil Service Disputes Act Section 25 sets out special rules on the right to nominate judges for cases to which the state is a party.

Deputy judges serve when the permanent judges are unable to attend. The deputy judges nominated by the organisations also have another important function. It follows from the Labour Disputes Act Section 38 that, when parties other than the organisations that nominated the permanent judges are parties to a case, deputy judges nominated by the organisations that are parties to the case shall take part.

With effect from 1 March 2012, the professional judges’ extrajudicial activities must be registered, cf. the Labour Disputes Act Section 36 third paragraph. The purpose of this register is to ensure transparency and prevent doubt from arising about the impartiality of the judges. The register is kept by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Link to the official government page about Arbeidsretten

The Labour Court’s permanent judges

  • The president of the Labour Court of Norway is Jakob Wahl.
  • The Labour Court’s vice president is Tron Løkken Sundet.
  • The third professional Labour Court judge is Eli Mette Jarbo.

The following judges have been appointed for the period from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2020 to hear cases pursuant to the Labour Disputes Act:

  • Tor Arne Solbakken, Rygge (LO)(new), with effect from 1 October 2018
  • Unni Rasmussen, Fredrikstad (LO) (new)
  • Niels Selmer Schweigaard, Oslo (NHO)(new)
  • Axel Thuve, Hosle (NHO)

The following judges have been appointed for the period from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2020 to hear cases pursuant to the Civil Service Disputes Act:

  • Tone Rønoldtangen, Nes (LO Stat) (new)
  • Geir Bjørkli, Trøgstad, (LO Stat) (new)
  • Tom Simonsen, Oslo (Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation)
  • Eva Torill Strømsnes, Skedsmo (Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation) (new, formerly deputy judge)

Deputy judges

The following deputy judges have been appointed for the period 1 September 2017–31 August 2020:


Deputy judges for President Jakob Wahl, Vice President Tron Løkken Sundet and Judge Eli Mette Jarbo:

  • Court of Appeal Judge Hedda Remen, Bærum
  • Court of Appeal Judge Eirik Akerlie, Oslo
  • Former Supreme Court Justice Georg Fredrik Rieber-Mohn, Ringerike
  • Court of Appeal Judge Sveinung Koslung, Oslo
  • Retired Supreme Court Justice Karin M. Bruzelius, Oslo
  • Court of Appeal Judge Tone Aasgaard, Oslo
  • Retired Supreme Court Justice Liv Gjølstad, Oslo
  • Retired Supreme Court Justice Steinar Tjomsland, Oslo
  • Retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Tore Schei, Oslo
  • Retired Supreme Court Justice Ingse Stabel, Oslo (new) 

Deputy judges for Tor Arne Solbakken and Unni Rasmussen:

  • Per Østvold, Oslo (LO)
  • Roger Hansen, Skedsmo (LO)(new)
  • Stein Grøtting, Oslo (LO)
  • Anne Marie Pettersen, Ringsaker (LO)
  • Gerd Torkildson, Førde (Unio)
  • Mimi Bjerkestrand, Bergen (Unio) (new)
  • Leif-Arne Asphaug-Hansen (Unio)
  • Kolbjørg Ødegaard, Aure (Unio) (new)
  • Anne Merete Bull, Oslo (Unio) (new)
  • Morten Sommerstad, Oslo (Unio) (new)
  • Kristin Kvaalen, Porsgrunn (Unio)
  • Laila-Brith Josefsen, Fredrikstad (Unio)
  • Didrik Coucheron, Bærum (YS)
  • Flemming Otto Hansen, Horten (YS)
  • John Giæver, Oslo (YS)
  • Arne Kjølberg, Greåker (YS)
  • Stein Johansen, Bekkestua (YS)
  • Frank Trygve Larsen, Moss (YS)
  • Eivind Røvde Solberg, Kongsvinger (YS) (new)
  • Geir Anthonsen, Risør (YS) (new)
  • Kate Elenore Rodin, Oslo (Akademikerne) (new)
  • Arne Laudal Refsum, Bærum (Akademikerne) (new)
  • Kjersti Borgen, Oslo (Akademikerne) (new)
  • Sigve Eikeland, Sola (NITO)
  • Lise Dragset, Trondheim (NITO)
  • Vigdis Fjeld, Kleppestø (NITO)
  • Tom Gusdal, Gjøvik (NITO)
  • Jan Olav Brekke, Stavanger (Lederne) (new)
  • Ottar Torflåt-Vannberg, Bergen (Lederne) (new)

Deputy judges for Niels Selmer Schweigaard and Axel Thuve:

  • Hege Aamotsmo, Oslo (NHO) Anne-Lise Aukner, Oslo (NHO)
  • Magne Braadland, Horten (NHO) (new)
  • Tore Ulleberg, Stavanger (NHO)
  • Jostein Gaasemyr, Oslo (NHO)
  • Bent Ove Hanasand, Rennesøy (NHO) (new)
  • Lill Bråten, Nesbru (NHO)
  • Per Kristian Sundnes, Lørenskog (KS) (new)
  • Astrid Merethe Svele, Oslo (KS)
  • Kirsti Vassbotn, Bærum (KS) (new)
  • Tom Fossmark, Stavanger (KS)
  • Jorunn Matre Estensen, Tønsberg (KS)
  • Jan-Bendix Byhring, Oslo (KS)
  • Frode Christensen, Sandvika (Virke)
  • Inger Elisabeth Meyer, Asker (Virke)
  • Kjersti Solheim Johansen, Bærum (Virke)
  • Therese Bjor Rønningen, Oppegård (Virke) (new)
  • Marianne Vernan, Oslo (Virke) (new)
  • Lise Falmår, Fredrikstad (Virke) (new)
  • Christina Styrvold Wiggen, Bærum (Virke)
  • Randi Johanne Løvland, Oslo (Spekter)
  • Kim Nordlie, Oslo (Spekter)
  • Håkon Cordt-Hansen, Oppegård (Spekter)
  • Thor Johansen, Oslo (Spekter)
  • Karin Erlimo, Oslo (Spekter)
  • Karin Ask-Henriksen, Drammen (Spekter)
  • Svein Kostveit, Vinje (Spekter)
  • Jan Inge Pettersen, Rælingen (Spekter)
  • Margunn Sørskår, Stavanger  (Norges Rederiforbund) (new)
  • Brita Alsos, Oslo (Finans Norge)
  • Odd Audun Granaas, Oslo (Finans Norge)
  • Christel Aase Hovrind, Lier (Finans Norge)
  • Rune Lindnes, Lindås (Finans Norge)
  • Lisbeth Andersen, Oslo (Finans Norge)
  • Bente Rebnor, Fjell (Finans Norge)
  • Lars Kåre Smith, Oslo (Finans Norge)
  • Leif Petter Fjellin, Kongsberg (Finans Norge)
  • Jon Sellæg, Verdal (MEF) (new)
  • Hanne Rennemo, Asker (PBL)
  • Knut Bråthen, Skien (PBL)
  • Anne Berit Lyng Malmo, Verdal (PBL)
  • Tommy Larsen, Halden (PBL) (new)
  • Britt Børke, Kongsberg (PBL)
  • Thor Gordon Eikeland, Sola  (PBL)
  • Eva Målfrid Heger, Sarpsborg (PBL)
  • Trond Ingvaldsen, Ullensaker (PBL) (new)
  • Inger Marie Aasen, Oslo (SAMFO) (new)
  • Unni Storstad, Inderøy (SAMFO) (new)
  • Per Ove Holmelid, Siljan (SAMFO) (new)
  • Bjørn Neverlien, Lillehammer (SAMFO)


Deputy judges for Tone Rønoldtangen and Geir Bjørkli:

  • Unni Karlsen, Nesoddtangen (LO Stat)
  • Morten Øye, Frogn (LO Stat)
  • Kate Elenore Rodin, Oslo (Akademikerne) (new)
  • Arne Laudal Refsum, Bærum (Akademikerne) (new)
  • Victor Bjørn Nielsen, Bergen (Unio) (new)
  • Kristin Kvaalen, Porsgrunn (Unio) (new)
  • Laila-Brith Josefsen, Fredrikstad (Unio) (new)
  • Didrik Coucheron, Bærums Verk (YS)
  • Flemming Otto Hansen, Horten (YS)
  • John Giæver, Asker (YS)
  • Arne Kjølberg, Sarpsborg (YS)
  • Stein Johansen, Bærum (YS)
  • Frank Trygve Larsen, Moss (YS)
  • Eivind Røvde Solberg, Kongsvinger (YS) (new)
  • Geir Anthonsen, Risør (YS) (new)

Deputy judges for Tom Simonsen and Eva Torill Strømsnes:

  • Jan Helge Pettersen, Oslo
  • Kjerstin Bretteville-Jensen, Oslo
  • Geir Haugstveit, Oslo (new)
  • Inger Harstveit, Oslo (new)