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 on 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 from 1 January 2022 to 1 July 2024
- 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 from 1 January 2022 to 1 July 2024
- 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).
President Marko Bošnjak
Official visits
Visit by the Secretary General of the European Judicial Training Network
On 17 December 2024, Ingrid Derveaux, Secretary General of the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN), visited the Court and was received by President Marko Bošnjak. Arnfinn Bårdsen, Vice-President of the Court, also attended the meeting.
Visit by the Secretary General of the European Judicial Training Network
On 17 December 2024, Ingrid Derveaux, Secretary General of the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN), visited the Court and was received by President Marko Bošnjak. Arnfinn Bårdsen, Vice-President of the Court, also attended the meeting.
Official visit to Poland
On 9 December 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, paid an official visit to Poland, accompanied by Krzysztof Wojtyczek, Judge elected in respect of Poland. On that occasion, they took part in bilateral meetings with Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adam Bodnar, Minister of Justice, and Marcin Wiącek, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman).
Official visit to Poland
On 9 December 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, paid an official visit to Poland, accompanied by Krzysztof Wojtyczek, Judge elected in respect of Poland. On that occasion, they took part in bilateral meetings with Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adam Bodnar, Minister of Justice, and Marcin Wiącek, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman).
Visit by delegations of Judges of the Superior Courts of Portugal
On 29 November 2024, delegations of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Portugal, headed by their respective Presidents, Judges José João Abrantes and João Cura Mariano, paid a working visit to the Court and were received by the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak. During the visit the delegations took part in roundtable discussions with judges of the ECHR and members of the Registry.
Visit by delegations of Judges of the Superior Courts of Portugal
On 29 November 2024, delegations of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Portugal, headed by their respective Presidents, Judges José João Abrantes and João Cura Mariano, paid a working visit to the Court and were received by the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak. During the visit the delegations took part in roundtable discussions with judges of the ECHR and members of the Registry.
Meeting with GREVIO President
On 19 November 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, met Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou, President of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO). Ivana Jelić, Vice-President of the Court, and Marialena Tsirli, Registrar of the Court, also attended the meeting.
Meeting with GREVIO President
On 19 November 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, met Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou, President of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO). Ivana Jelić, Vice-President of the Court, and Marialena Tsirli, Registrar of the Court, also attended the meeting.
Visit by a delegation of the Court of Justice of the European Union
On 18 November 2024, a delegation from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), headed by its President, Koen Lenaerts, paid a visit to the Court for the two Courts’ annual meeting and was received by President Marko Bošnjak. During the visit the delegation took part in roundtable discussions with judges of the Court and members of the Registry.
Visit by a delegation of the Court of Justice of the European Union
On 18 November 2024, a delegation from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), headed by its President, Koen Lenaerts, paid a visit to the Court for the two Courts’ annual meeting and was received by President Marko Bošnjak. During the visit the delegation took part in roundtable discussions with judges of the Court and members of the Registry.
Official visit to Italy
On 15 November 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, paid an official visit to Italy. On that occasion, he was received by Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic. President Bošnjak was accompanied by Raffaele Sabato, judge elected in respect of Italy, and Marialena Tsirli, Registrar of the Court. During this visit, the delegation also took part in bilateral meetings with the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation of Italy.
Official visit to Italy
On 15 November 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, paid an official visit to Italy. On that occasion, he was received by Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic. President Bošnjak was accompanied by Raffaele Sabato, judge elected in respect of Italy, and Marialena Tsirli, Registrar of the Court. During this visit, the delegation also took part in bilateral meetings with the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation of Italy.
Events Presidency
On 10 January 2025, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, attended the Solemn Hearing for the opening of the judicial year at the French Court of Cassation in Paris. He was accompanied by Mattias Guyomar, Section President and Judge elected in respect of France.
On 10 December 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, accompanied by Krzysztof Wojtyczek, Judge elected in respect of Poland, attended the 15th Warsaw Human Rights Seminar organised by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 65th anniversary of the ECHR. President Bošnjak delivered a keynote speech on the role of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Court in strengthening democratic institutions on that occasion.
On 5 December 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, attended a high-level conference on the effectiveness of ombudsman institutions and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in tackling contemporary challenges, organised in Bled (Slovenia), on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia. President Bošnjak delivered a keynote speech on that occasion.
On 28 November 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, attended a conference organised by the Swiss Federal Office of Justice, in Bern, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Switzerland’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights. He was accompanied by Andreas Zünd, Judge elected in respect of Switzerland. President Bošnjak and Judge Zünd both delivered an address on that occasion.
- Speech by President Marko Bošnjak (in French only)
On 21 November 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, as well as a delegation of Judges from the Court, attended a high-level event held in Strasbourg on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. President Bošnjak delivered an address on that occasion.
On 14 November 2024, the President of the Court, Marko Bošnjak, delivered an annual lecture on the topic European democracy through law: the role of the European Court of Human Rights in building a robust Rule of Law, at the University of Roma Tre Department of Law, in Rome (Italy).
Former Presidents of the Court
(British)
President from 5 May 1971 to 21 January 1974
