Composition of the Court
Election of judges
The judges are elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from lists of three candidates proposed by each State. They are elected for a non-renewable term of nine years.
Although judges are elected in respect of a State, they hear cases as individuals and do not represent that State. They are totally independent and cannot engage in any activity that would be incompatible with their duty of independence and impartiality.
Read more about the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Judges of the Court
In order of precedence as at 27/04/2026
Guyomar
President
Bårdsen
Vice-President
Section President
Jelić
Vice-President
Section President
Chanturia
Section President
Ktistakis
Section President
Šimáčková
Section President
Vehabović
Judge
Hüseynov
Judge
Ilievski
Judge
Paczolay
Judge
Elósegui
Judge
Felici
Judge
Pavli
Judge
Wennerström
Judge
Sabato
Judge
Yüksel
Judge
Schembri Orland
Judge
Seibert-Fohr
Judge
Roosma
Judge
Guerra Martins
Judge
Zünd
Judge
Krenc
Judge
Sârcu
Judge
Derenčinović
Judge
Gnatovskyy
Judge
Mjöll Arnardóttir
Judge
Bormann
Judge
Rădulețu
Judge
Kovatcheva
Judge
Sagatys
Judge
Pisani
Judge
Ní Raifeartaigh
Judge
Chablais
Judge
Kučs
Judge
Đurović
Judge
Jakab
Judge
Adamska-Gallant
Judge
Lavapuro
Judge
Mingorance Cairat
Judge
Grigoryan
Judge
Sancin
Judge
Biancheri
Judge
Mercer
Judge
Emiliou
Judge
Wissels
Judge
Judicial ethics
The European Court is committed to ensuring that the ethical standards its judges are held to are both visible and robust.
The Resolution on Judicial Ethics of the Court (updated in 2021 and 2024) applies to serving members of the Court as well as, where relevant, to former and ad hoc judges. It sets down a series of principles that judges are expected to observe. Under this Resolution the President has a central role in providing advice on judicial ethics.
The Resolution also deals with specific situations, such as additional activities and the acceptance of decorations and honours. Within that framework an Ethics Council advises the President of the Court on matters of judicial ethics.
The intention is to bring more transparency to the obligations inherent in judicial office, as set forth in Article 21 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Rules of Court, and to enhance public confidence in the Court.
Recusal of judges
In January 2024 the Court has published a new version of the Rules of Court, which incorporates some changes to Rule 28 on the recusal of judges. The latter were adopted by the plenary Court on 15 December 2023 and entered into force on 22 January 2024.
Rule 28 ensures the rigorous implementation of the principle of judicial impartiality, which is crucial for upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights, and ensuring the good administration of justice. The updated Rule reiterates the reasons for which a judge cannot sit in a particular case and strengthens the core procedural framework for the recusal of judges by expressly codifying the existing practice according to which the parties to the proceedings may request recusal of a judge.
The updated rule is accompanied by a Practice Direction issued by the President of the Court on 22 January 2024.
Judges of the Court since 1959
This list includes all judges of the Court since 1959, by countries, including the judges currently appointed.