Hovrätt (literally "Royal Court") was the highest judicial body in Sweden until King Gustav III founded the Supreme Court of Sweden in 1789. The first hovrätt, Svea hovrätt, was founded 1614 in Stockholm. In Finland, then a part of Sweden, the court in Åbo was founded in 1623 by Gustavus Adolphus, mainly due to the distance to Stockholm. Today, these courts mostly function as an appellate court, the second highest judicial body in both Sweden and Finland.

Hovrätt (literally "Royal Court") was the highest judicial body in Sweden until King Gustav III founded the Supreme Court of Sweden in 1789. The first hovrätt, Svea hovrätt, was founded 1614 in Stockholm. In Finland, then a part of Sweden, the court in Åbo was founded in 1623 by Gustavus Adolphus, mainly due to the distance to Stockholm. Today, these courts mostly function as an appellate court, the second highest judicial body in both Sweden and Finland.