Organisation

The Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) is the highest administrative court in Finland. It exercises the highest judicial powers in administrative cases. The Supreme Administrative Court acts as the court of last resort, hearing appeals from individuals, organisations and public authorities against administrative decisions made by public authorities.

As the highest administrative court, it acts as the court of last resort in determining the lawfulness of administrative decisions. In administrative matters, one of the parties to the proceedings is a public authority or another body exercising public authority.

The role of the Supreme Administrative Court is to ensure legal protection in administrative matters and, by ruling on appeals, to oversee the lawfulness of decisions made by public authorities. At the same time, the Supreme Administrative Court provides legal protection in individual appeal cases.

Court of leave to appeal

The Supreme Administrative Court is a court for granting leave to appeal. As a general rule, decisions of a lower court may be appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court if the Supreme Administrative Court grants leave to appeal in the case. There are some exceptions to the general rule.

Due to the system of leave to appeal, the work of the Supreme Administrative Court focuses on issuing precedents that guide the activities of administrative courts and administrative authorities.

Decisions are final

A ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court is called a decision. Decisions are final and cannot be appealed to any other court. Consequently, the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights cannot amend or overturn decisions made by national courts such as the Supreme Administrative Court.

The Court in figures

• The annual number of cases processed is approximately 3,500. The average processing time for all cases is approximately six months; five months for leave-to-appeal cases and ten months for case decisions.
• The Supreme Administrative Court has 110 permanent positions. The Court also employs personnel on fixed-term contracts. Approximately half of the personnel work in judicial functions and half in supportive functions.
• The Supreme Administrative Court’s annual operating costs total approximately EUR 14 million. Personnel costs account for the largest share of expenditure.

Key functions in brief

• Exercises the highest judicial authority in administrative cases by issuing decisions that guide legal and administrative practice, thereby overseeing the administration of justice within its own sphere of competence and the lawfulness of the exercise of public authority.
• Provides legal protection in individual appeal cases
• Provides the Government with legal opinions on legislative matters on request
• May submit proposals to the Government regarding the adoption of legislation.