the courtroom
The room in a Danish court building where hearings are held and cases are tried
The courtroom is the room in a court building where court hearings are officially held, and where procedural acts in civil and criminal cases are carried out. Under Danish law, it is here that the judge conducts the proceedings, the parties present their arguments, witnesses give evidence, and any evidence is produced and examined.
The courtroom constitutes the physical and institutional framework of the administration of justice and is organised according to fixed principles of placement and roles. The judge or panel of judges sits at the head of the room, typically raised above the rest of the space, marking the centre of authority. The prosecutor and the defence counsel have fixed seats on opposite sides, and in criminal cases the defendant normally sits next to his or her defence counsel.
Access to the courtroom is in principle public under the rules of the Danish Administration of Justice Act (retsplejeloven) on public access to the administration of justice. The court may nevertheless decide to close the doors if the nature of the case so requires — for example out of concern for the safety of witnesses, state secrets or particularly vulnerable injured parties.
Special rules of conduct apply in the courtroom during a hearing. Everyone rises when the judge enters, and the court requires calm and order. Disruptive behaviour may lead to removal from the room, and in serious cases a fine may be imposed. These rules support the dignity of the proceedings and ensure proper procedural conditions for all parties.
The concept of 'courtroom' is not independently defined in law in the Danish Penal Code (straffeloven) or the Administration of Justice Act, but the latter regulates in detail the procedural acts and rights exercised in the room, including rules on public access, the examination of witnesses and the rights of the parties during the main hearing.
