Denmark
The justice system of Denmark
A unitary civil-law monarchy under the 1953 Constitution: independent courts, a ministry-led prosecution, and ordinary courts that decide constitutional and administrative questions without a separate court for either.
Facts on this page were checked against their sources on .
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy governed by the Constitutional Act of 1953. Section 3 vests the judicial power in the courts of justice; Section 62 guarantees that "the administration of justice shall always remain independent of the executive power"; and Section 64 provides that judges are "directed solely by the law" and enjoy security of tenure. These are the constitutional foundations of an independent judiciary.
The same idea, explained generally
- What is justice?
Justice is the principle that people should be treated according to rules that apply equally to everyone, decided by bodies that are authorised, constrained, and answerable. This guide explains what that means institutionally.
- What is the rule of law?
The rule of law is the principle that everyone, including the government, is subject to law that is public, applied equally, and interpreted by independent courts. This guide explains what it requires and what it does not.
- What do courts do?
Courts resolve disputes, test the state’s case against individuals, interpret law, and review public decisions. This guide explains those functions and why judicial independence is structural.
Sources
Sources
The Constitutional Act of Denmark (Danmarks Riges Grundlov), 1953 — English translation
Constitute Project (reproduction of the official English translation) · Other · 1953 · link verified 2026-07-26
The 1953 Constitutional Act, read from the Constitute Project reproduction of the standard official English translation, because the Folketing's own PDF was behind a Cloudflare challenge. Cross-confirmed by the adversarial verification pass. Supports Section 3 (judicial power vested in the courts of justice), Section 62 ("The administration of justice shall always remain independent of the executive power"), Section 63 (the courts may decide any question on the scope of the executive's authority — the basis for judicial review within the ordinary courts, there being no separate administrative-court branch), and Section 64 (judges directed solely by the law; security of tenure). The authoritative text is Danish. The constitutional section number of the ombudsman provision was NOT relied on (the accessible rendering and the widely-cited official number differ); the ombudsman is cited from its own statutory basis instead.
National justice systems — Denmark (European e-Justice Portal)
European Commission (European e-Justice Portal) · International organisation · link verified 2026-07-26
The European Commission's e-Justice portal page on Denmark, read directly and re-confirmed in the verification pass. Supports the court hierarchy — the Supreme Court (Højesteret) at the apex, two high courts (Østre and Vestre Landsret), the Maritime and Commercial Court, the Land Registration Court, and 24 district courts (byretterne), plus the courts of the Faroe Islands and Greenland — and that there is no constitutional court and no separate administrative courts (constitutional and administrative questions are decided within the ordinary courts). Also establishes the independent Danish Court Administration (Domstolsstyrelsen), created 1 July 1999, over which the Minister "has no powers of instruction".