Sammanfattning
Based on cases involving deaf people as complainants, victims, the indicted or as affected
parties, we endeavour in this study to explore how the judiciary facilitates accessibility and
participation during the court process and how it takes into account language differences when
reviewing cases and as mitigating circumstances when deciding the outcome of the case. The study
is based on data from observations of court cases - both civil and criminal - on court documents and
decisions, and on interviews with complainants, defendants and others involved in the judicial
process. We focus in particular on one deaf man, Lars, who brought to court his compulsory
admission (sectioning) to a psychiatric ward. The cases can be understood as ‘critical events’ by
addressing injustice in terms of communicative barriers that have led to debate within and outside of
the deaf community. The cases illuminate issues about accessibility, accountability and
discrimination as well as the limits to and opportunities for individual and collective redress and
legal activism through courts. We use the cases to discuss opportunities and inequalities inherent in
the legal system and suggest multiple levels at which injustice occurs.