Draft:Erik O. Wennerström


Erik O. Wennerström
Judge of the European Court of Human Rights
Assumed office
1 April 2019
Personal details
Born (1962-08-25) August 25, 1962 (age 63)
Västanfors, Sweden
Alma materUppsala University (LL.M., LL.D.)

Erik O. Wennerström (born 25 August 1962) is a Swedish jurist, legal scholar and civil servant who has served as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in respect of Sweden since 1 April 2019. Since 29 December 2024 he has been a Vice-President of the Court’s First Section.[1]

Biography

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Early life and education

Wennerström was born in Västanfors, Sweden. He received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Uppsala University in 1988, and earned a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) in 2007 with a dissertation on the rule of law and the European Union.

Career

From 1987 to 1990 Wennerström lectured in public law at Uppsala University. He then joined Swedish government service in 1990, including diplomatic training at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, followed by postings to Sweden’s Permanent Mission in Geneva (1991–1994) and the Embassy in Kuala Lumpur (1994–1996). From 1996 to 2000 he worked at the European Commission on judicial cooperation in criminal matters. He later served at the Ministry of Justice as Director for International Relations and EU Affairs (2000–2004) and as Director and Head of International Law Enforcement Affairs (2005–2007). Between 2007 and 2012 he was Principal Legal Adviser on international law at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Wennerström was Director-General of the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet, Brå) from 2012 until taking up his judgeship in 2019.[2][3]

European Court of Human Rights

On 22 January 2019 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) elected Wennerström as the judge to the ECHR in respect of Sweden.[4] He took office on 1 April 2019, and on 29 December 2024 became a Vice-President of Section.

Honours Wennerström received the von Matern premium from Uppsala University in 2018 for his scholarly contributions on Europe and the rule of law.[5]

See also

   European Court of Human Rights
   Judiciary of Sweden


References

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  1. ^ "Erik Wennerström". European Court of Human Rights. Council of Europe. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Erik Wennerström ny generaldirektör på Brottsförebyggande rådet". News Cision (in Swedish). Brottsförebyggande rådet. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Ny svensk domare i Europadomstolen utsedd av Europarådets parlamentariska församling". Regeringen.se (in Swedish). Government of Sweden. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  4. ^ "PACE elects Erik Wennerström judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Sweden". Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Erik Wennerström tilldelades 2018 års von Matern premium". Uppsala University (in Swedish). 21 March 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2025.