Born on 17 May 1935, Germany

• Studies in law at the Universities of Göttingen, Berlin and Paris
• Doctor of Law at the University of Göttingen
• Trainee lawyer with various German Courts, 1960 and from 1962 to 1966
• Entered the service of the Council of Europe, 1967
• Deputy Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights, 1975-1994
• Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights, 1994-1998.