Born on 18 January 1937 in Bâle, Switzerland

• Studies in Basel, Paris, Heidelberg, London and Yale
• Doctor of Law, Basel, 1961; LL.M. Yale, 1965; J.S.D., Yale, 1968; Dres.h.c.,LL.D.h.c.
• Professor at the University of Fribourg, 1971-1977
• Professor at the University of Basel, 1977-1998
• Rector of the University of Basel, 1992-1994
• Chief Co-ordinator of the Commission for the Complete Revision of the SwissFederal Constitution, 1974-1978
• President of the Swiss Society of International Law, 1979-1991
• Judge of the Constitutional Court of the Principality of Liechtenstein, 1975-1988
• Judge of the Administrative Tribunal of the Inter-American Development Bank,1989-1994
• Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, 1991-1998
• Judge and President of the European Court of Human Rights from 1 November 1998to 18 January 2007