The Lawmen
After Iceland entered into personal union with Norway in 1264 a change of law with the new lawbook of king Magnus of Norway came into effect in 1271. According to this book, Járnsíða (Ironside), a lawman was set over each farthing. Usually there were just two lawmen, one for the north and west farthings and one for the south and east farthings, but sometimes there were as many as four. At the same time the old assemblies muted into counties (sýslur) and the goði-chieftains were replaced by county sheriffs (sýslumaður) an office awarded by the king. The lawmen gradually became very powerful and the institution of a supreme court (yfirdómur) in 1593 was an attempt to curb their power instigated by their main competitors, the two bishops.
Read more about this topic: Farthings Of Iceland