Born on 29 April 1925 in Kassel, Germany 

• Law studies at Frankfurt University, 1948-1952
• Professional training after 1st examination (Referendar), 1952-1956
• Doctor of law (University of Frankfurt), 1955
• 2nd examination in law (Assessor), 1956
• Member of Max Planck Institute for foreign public law and international law,Heidelberg, 1954-1965
• Studies at Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Mass., USA, 1959
• Junior professor in German and foreign international law (venia legendi), 1962
• Professor in public law at Frankfurt University, 1965-1970
• Head of faculty of law of Frankfurt University, 1967-1968
• Director of Max Planck Institute for foreign public law and international law,Heidelberg, since 1970
• Professor at Heidelberg and Frankfurt University, since 1970
• President of the German Society for International law, 1973-1977
• Member of the advisory board to the Auswärtiges Amt. f. Int. law, since 1976
• Professor Dr. Bernhardt has participated in or organized meetings and conferences onquestions of human rights protection, since 1970, e.g.:
  • 1976 Conference on the protection of human rights in Europe
  • 1978 Human rights conference of the Council of Europe in Athens
  • 1980 Invitation of the Interamerican Court of Human Rights on the occasionof the foundation of an interamerican institute for human rights
• Vice-president of the Court from 27 May 1992 to 23 March 1998
• President of the Court from 24 March to 31 October 1998
• Judge of the European Court of Human Rights from 25 January 1981 to 31 October1998