domari (OSw) domeri (OGu) dómari (ON) noun

A general designation for a judge; someone with the authority to pass judgment. In the Norwegian and Icelandic laws the terms dómandi (q.v.) and dæmandi are also used, both seemingly synonymous with ON dómari. Multiple judges served on a panel (ON kvið), and their collective decision constituted a judgment (ON dómr) on a case. In some instances (e.g. Js Mah 34 and Jó Mah 16) a dómari is appointed to punish an offender.

In the Svea laws a judge (OSw domari) had the additional responsibility of organizing legal proceedings in conjunction with the king’s representative (OSw lænsmaþer). In medieval Gotland each assembly district (OGu þing) was administered by a domari. In OSw BjR, the domari was presumably one of the town’s mayors on duty (see borghamæstare).

judge OGu GL A 19, 61
OIce Jó Mah 16 Kab 12 Þjb 24
OIce Js Mah 34
OIce KRA 33
OSw BjR
OSw DL Eb, Rb
OSw KrL Kgb Gb Rb DbII
OSw MEL Kgb Gb
OSw MESt Rb
OSw ÖgL Kkb Jb Rb Bb
OSw SdmL Jb, Bb, Kmb, Tjdb, Rb, Till
OSw UL StfBM, Kkb, Äb, Mb, Jb, Blb, Rb, Add. 17, 18
OSw VmL Kgb, Mb, Jb, Bb, Rb
OSw YVgL Kkb, Add
Expressions:

högsti domari (OSw)
supreme judge OSw YVgL Föb

kalla sik vndir högre domara (OSw)
submit one’s case to a higher judge OSw YVgL Kkb

Probably refers to the king, the duke or their proxy.

Refs:

CV; Fritzner; GAO s.v. domare; Hertzberg; KLNM s.v. domare, rettergang; Lindkvist 2021, 19; ONP; von See 1964, 44; SL BjR, xcviii