Presidency of the Court
The President
The President of the Court directs the work and administration of the Court (Rule 9 of the Rules of Court).
He or she represents the Court and, in particular, is responsible for its relations with the authorities of the Council of Europe as well as the political and judicial authorities of the States Parties to the European Convention of Human Rights.
The President presides at plenary meetings of the Court, meetings of the Grand Chamber, meetings of the Grand Chamber panel of five judges and meetings of the Bureau.
The President is assisted by Bureau, the Registrar of the Court and by the President’s Private Office.
The President
The President of the Court directs the work and administration of the Court (Rule 9 of the Rules of Court).
He or she represents the Court and, in particular, is responsible for its relations with the authorities of the Council of Europe as well as the political and judicial authorities of the States Parties to the European Convention of Human Rights.
The President presides at plenary meetings of the Court, meetings of the Grand Chamber, meetings of the Grand Chamber panel of five judges and meetings of the Bureau.
The President is assisted by Bureau, the Registrar of the Court and by the President’s Private Office.
Marko Bošnjak
Born on 12 March 1974 in Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Graduated in Law, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law, 1996
- Research assistant (1996-2002), research fellow (2002-2006), senior research fellow (2006-2008), at the Institute of Criminology, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law
- Judicial traineeship at the Court of Appeal in Ljubljana, 1998-2000
- Masters’ degree, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law, 1999
- State Judicial Exam, 2001
- Ph.D. in Law, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law, 2002
- Independent advisor (2002-2006), superior advisor (2006-2008) Constitutional Court of Slovenia
- Assistant Professor for criminal law and criminology, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law, 2005-2015
- Lecturer, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, 2006-2012
- Expert Member of the Council for Criminal Law, Ministry of Justice of Slovenia, 2008-2011
- Attorney specialised in criminal law, 2009-2016
- Associate Professor of criminal law, European Law Faculty in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, since 2012
- Judge of the European Court of Human Rights since 30 May 2016
- Vice-President of Section from 15 May 2019 to 17 May 2021
- President of Section since 1 January 2022
- Vice-President of the Court from 1 November 2022 to 1 July 2024
- President of the Court since 2 July 2024.
Marko Bošnjak
Born on 12 March 1974 in Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Graduated in Law, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law, 1996
- Research assistant (1996-2002), research fellow (2002-2006), senior research fellow (2006-2008), at the Institute of Criminology, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law
- Judicial traineeship at the Court of Appeal in Ljubljana, 1998-2000
- Masters’ degree, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law, 1999
- State Judicial Exam, 2001
- Ph.D. in Law, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law, 2002
- Independent advisor (2002-2006), superior advisor (2006-2008) Constitutional Court of Slovenia
- Assistant Professor for criminal law and criminology, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law, 2005-2015
- Lecturer, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, 2006-2012
- Expert Member of the Council for Criminal Law, Ministry of Justice of Slovenia, 2008-2011
- Attorney specialised in criminal law, 2009-2016
- Associate Professor of criminal law, European Law Faculty in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, since 2012
- Judge of the European Court of Human Rights since 30 May 2016
- Vice-President of Section from 15 May 2019 to 17 May 2021
- President of Section since 1 January 2022
- Vice-President of the Court from 1 November 2022 to 1 July 2024
- President of the Court since 2 July 2024.
Election of the President
The plenary Court elects its President for a period of three years (Rule 8 of the Rules of Court).
Official visit to the Republic of Moldova - 21-23 May 2024
Official visits
Visit by the Public Defender of Georgia
On 27 June 2024, Levan Ioseliani, Public Defender of Georgia, visited the Court and was received by President Síofra O’Leary. Lado Chanturia, Judge elected in respect of Georgia, and Abel Campos, Deputy Registrar of the Court, also attended the meeting.
Visit by the Public Defender of Georgia
On 27 June 2024, Levan Ioseliani, Public Defender of Georgia, visited the Court and was received by President Síofra O’Leary. Lado Chanturia, Judge elected in respect of Georgia, and Abel Campos, Deputy Registrar of the Court, also attended the meeting.
Events President
On 20 June 2024, President Síofra O’Leary attended a high-level session held in Strasbourg on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). She delivered a keynote address on that occasion.
Former Presidents of the Court
Sir Nicolas Bratza
Jean-Paul Costa
Rudolf Bernhardt
Rolv Ryssdal
Gérard J. Wiarda
Giorgio Balladore Pallieri
Sir Humphrey Waldock
(British)
President from 5 May 1971 to 21 January 1974