Turun Hovioikeus (Turku Court of Appeal), Turku

The Turku Court of Appeal, established by royal decree on June 15, 1623, is Finland’s oldest court of appeal. Initially founded by King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden to ensure that Finnish citizens could access justice without enduring the long and costly journey to Stockholm, it has played a central role in the Finnish legal system for centuries. Nils Tuurenpoika Bielke was the court's first president and simultaneously served as Governor of Finland. The court originally operated from Turku Castle and various other locations before settling in the Old Academy Building in 1830, where it remains today.

The Old Academy Building, a neoclassical structure designed by Swedish architect Carl Christoffer Gjorwell, was originally consecrated in 1817 for the Royal Academy of Turku. Located in Cathedral Square, next to Turku Cathedral, the building has a storied history. Its foundation was laid in 1802 in a ceremony attended by Swedish royalty, and it sustained significant damage during the Great Fire of Turku in 1827. Afterward, the building was restored under the guidance of architect Carl Ludvig Engel and repurposed for the Court of Appeal, the Turku Cathedral chapter, and the County Administrative Board.

Today, the Turku Court of Appeal is the second-largest in Finland, after Helsinki, with a staff of over 114 and jurisdiction over 1.3 million residents and four district courts. In 2019, it issued 2,016 decisions. The court also shares the Old Academy Building with the University of Turku, which manages the Ceremonial Hall, a notable venue for concerts and academic events, known for its exceptional acoustics.