Erik Solem
Encyclopedia
Erik Toralf Solem was a Norwegian judge.
He was born in Kristiania
. He worked as a Supreme Court
barrister from 1905, district stipendiary magistrate (sorenskriver) from 1912 to 1927 and acting professor of jurisprudence from 1931 to 1932. He served as a Supreme Court Justice
from 1938 to 1948, except for the period between December 1940 and May 1945, during the German occupation of Norway. Instead, he was a member of the Hjemmefrontens Ledelse, and viewed as the successor of Paal Berg should Berg die. Following the end of the occupation he was active in the legal purge
, as an ad-hoc presiding judge in Eidsivating
. Among others, he presided over the case where Vidkun Quisling
was sentenced to death for high treason. Harsh in his sentencing, he was nicknamed "Erik Bloodaxe" by some, but later remitted some of his own sentences.
He was born in Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. He worked as a Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
barrister from 1905, district stipendiary magistrate (sorenskriver) from 1912 to 1927 and acting professor of jurisprudence from 1931 to 1932. He served as a Supreme Court Justice
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
from 1938 to 1948, except for the period between December 1940 and May 1945, during the German occupation of Norway. Instead, he was a member of the Hjemmefrontens Ledelse, and viewed as the successor of Paal Berg should Berg die. Following the end of the occupation he was active in the legal purge
Legal purge in Norway after World War II
When the occupation of Norway ended in May 1945, several thousand Norwegians and foreign citizens were tried and convicted for various acts that the occupying powers sanctioned...
, as an ad-hoc presiding judge in Eidsivating
Eidsivating Court of Appeal
Eidsivating Court of Appeal is the court of appeal located in Hamar, Norway. It serves the counties of Hedmark, Oppland and northern Akershus. In addition to Hamar, the court may meet in Lillehammer and Eidsvoll...
. Among others, he presided over the case where Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
was sentenced to death for high treason. Harsh in his sentencing, he was nicknamed "Erik Bloodaxe" by some, but later remitted some of his own sentences.