aud, Histoire Generale, XII., 266-274; to
1906, in Cambridge Modern History, XII., 280-290.
For additional references see pp. 578-579.]

V. THE JUDICIARY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

*648. The Courts.*--For the administration of civil justice the kingdom
of Norway is divided into 105 districts--eighty rural and twenty-five
urban--in each of which there is a court of first instance composed of
two justices chosen by the people. There are three higher tribunals,
each with a chief justice and two associates. At the top stands the
Hoeiesteret, or Supreme Court, consisting of a chief justice and six
associates. The decisions of the Supreme Court may be neither appealed
nor reviewed. For the trial of criminal cases, as regulated by law of
July 1, 1887, there exist two types of tribunals: (1) the Lagmandsret,
consisting of a president and ten jurors and (2) the Meddomsret,
consisting of a judge and two non-professional assistants chosen for
each case. There are in the kingdom four Lagdoemmer, or jury districts,
each divided into circuits corresponding, as a rule, to the counties.
The jury courts take cognizance of the more serious cases. "No (p. 588)
one," the constitution stipulates, "shall be tried except in
accordance with law or punished except by virtue of a judicial
sentence; and examination by means of torture is forbidden."[821] The
members of the Lagthing, together with those of the Supreme Court,
comprise the Rigsret, or Court of Impeachment. This tribunal tries,
without appeal, cases involving charges of misconduct in office
brought by the Odelsthing against members of the Council of State, the
Supreme Court, or the Storthing.[822]

[Footnote 821: Art. 96. Dodd, Modern Constitutions,
II., 141.]

[Footnote 822: Arts. 86-87. Ibid., II., 139.]

*649. Local Government.*--For purposes of administration the kingdom is
divided into twenty regions--the cities of Christiania and Bergen and
eighteen _Amter_, or counties. At the head of each is an Amtmand, or
prefect, who is appointed by the crown. The principal local unit is
the _Herred_, or commune, of which there are upwards of seven hundred,
mostly rural parishes. As a rule, the government of the commune is
vested in a body of twelve to forty-eight representatives and a
Formaend, or council, elected by and from the representatives and
comprising one-fourth of their number. Ev