Born on 17 May 1950 in Louis Trichardt, South Africa

• Law degree, University of Zurich, 1976
• Doctor of Law, University of Zurich, 1978
• Assistant at the University of Zurich, 1978-1981
• Bye-Fellow, Robinson College/University of Cambridge, 1981-1983
• Assistant Professor (Privatdozent), 1985 and Professor of Law, 1992 at the University of Zurich
• Legal Administrator in the Secretariat of the European Commission of Human Rights, 1983-1991
• Head of Division in the Secretariat of the European Commission of Human Rights, 1991-1998
• Head of Division in the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights, 1998-2002
• Deputy Registrar of the 3rd Section of the European Court of Human Rights, 2002-2006
• President of Section from 1 November 2012 to 31 August 2015
• Judge of the European Court of Human Rights from 1 September 2006 to 31 August 2015