Hei hei fra Norge! I’m Elsa Ingrid Batalden (Class of 2026), studying philosophy, Latin, and Norwegian at UChicago. This summer, thanks to the Summer International Travel Grant, I’ve been in Norway researching how the country handles pretrial detention—a key part of the criminal justice system where decisions are made about whether someone stays in jail before trial. After working with Professor Alison Siegler and the Federal Criminal Justice Clinic on detention advocacy in the U.S., I was curious how a country like Norway—often seen as a leader in humane justice—approaches these decisions.
I’ve been interviewing defense attorneys, judges, and legal scholars in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Tromsø to understand Norway’s remand process. There’s very little public data or research on this topic, so hearing directly from experts has been incredibly valuable. One major takeaway is how much Norway relies on professional norms and judicial discretion, rather than rigid rules—something that stands in sharp contrast to the U.S. system.
Outside of research, I’ve had the chance to connect with relatives in Norway. We’ve done lots of hiking, including Batalden Island (where my family is from and where my name comes from), Kinn, and Hananipa. It’s been meaningful to explore these places and reconnect with my roots while diving deep into a topic I care about. We’ve also been feasting on traditional Norwegian brunost (brown cheese), pancakes, and fish!