Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights{In accordance with Article 22 of the European Convention on Human Rights.}

List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Denmark

Communication | Doc. 13360 | 27 November 2013

Author(s):

Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly

Contents

1List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Denmark

Appendix 1– Karsten HAGEL-SØRENSEN

Appendix 2– Nina HOLST-CHRISTENSEN

Appendix 3– Jon Fridrik KJØLBRO

1 List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Denmark

Letter from Mr Claus von Barnekow, Ambassador of Denmark to the Council of Europe, to Mr Wojciech Sawicki, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, dated 7 November 2013

…

1. List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Denmark

With reference to your letter of 19 December 2012, the Government of Denmark respectfully submits the following candidates for election as Judge at the European Court of Human Rights (in alphabetical order):

Mr Karsten Hagel-Sørensen

Ms Nina Holst-Christensen

Mr Jon Fridrik Kjølbro

The curriculum vitae for each of the candidates has been examined by the Advisory Panel of Experts on Candidates for election as Judge to the European Court of Human Rights and, given their qualifications, found to meet the requirements of Article 21.1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The curricula vitae in English and French are attached to this letter as annexes 1-3.

…

2. Description of the procedure by which the candidates were selected

By letter dated 19 December 2012 a request was submitted to the Danish Government by the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the submission of a list of three candidates for the position as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Denmark. The Danish Government was requested to send the list of candidates and their detailed curricula vitae as well as a description of the procedure by which the candidates were selected no later than 12 November 2013.

By letter dated 9 January 2013 a request was submitted to the Danish Government by the Chair of the Advisory Panel of Experts on Candidates for election as Judge to the European Court of Human Rights for the submission of the names and curricula vitae of the candidates included by the Government in the list of candidates for election as judge. The Government was requested to provide the information to the Panel no later than 2 October 2013.

In March 2013 an independent standing committee of five members was appointed by the Minister of Justice upon nomination from the President of the Supreme Court (nomination of the chairman of the Committee), the Presidents of the High Courts, the Council of the Danish Bar and Law Society, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice respectively.

The members of the Committee are the following:

Mr Poul Søgaard, Supreme Court Judge (chairman of the committee)

Ms Marie S. Mikkelsen, Judge at the High Court of Western Denmark

Mr Jens Rostock-Jensen, Attorney, Member of the Council of the Danish Bar and Law Society

Mr Claus Grube, former Permanent Secretary of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (now Denmark’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom)

Ms Anne Kristine Axelsson, Permanent Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice

The Committee’s task is to evaluate the qualifications and eligibility of applicants to the positions as Danish judge at the European Court of Human Rights, Danish judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union, Danish judge at the General Court of the European Union, and Danish Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union. On the basis of this evaluation, the Committee proposes the best candidates to the Government. The Ministry of Justice serves as the secretariat of the Committee.

On 3 May 2013, a notice for the position of judge at the European Court of Human Rights was published in Djøfbladet, a biweekly periodical issued to the members of DJØF (a Danish union representing approximately 80 000 people working within the field of law, business economics and political and social sciences) and placed on two major websites for vacant positions in Denmark (www.jobunivers.dk, www.jobnet.dk), as well as on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The notice included information on the requirements for qualification as judge at the European Court of Human Rights, including linguistic competences, as well as relevant information about the application process. In the notice, persons who wished to be nominated as candidates for the position as judge at the European Court of Human Rights were invited to submit to the Ministry of Justice their applications no later than 3 June 2013. Applicants were invited to send their applications by letter or to upload them electronically.

On 26 June 2013, the Committee decided that it had not received enough applications for the purpose of doing a proper evaluation and therefore the Committee decided to re-publish the notice. The notice was published in an electronic newsletter to all the members of DJØF and on the above-mentioned websites. The new deadline for submitting applications was set at 13 August 2013.

In total, seven applications were received within the deadline. On 19 August 2013, the Committee assessed whether the applicants met the eligibility requirements for nomination as candidates for the position as judge at the European Court of Human Rights in accordance with Article 21 of the European Convention on Human Rights as well as the qualifications listed in i.a. the Guidelines of the Committee of Ministers on the selection of candidates for the post of judge at the European Court of Human Rights (CM(2012)40 of 29 March 2012) and in Recommendation 1649 (2004) from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Committee summoned five out of seven applicants to interviews on 29 August 2013. On that basis, and after assessing the qualifications of the applicants, the Committee proposed the three above-mentioned candidates to the Government.

On 11 September 2013, the Danish Government accepted the Committee’s nominations.

On 23 September 2013, the Danish Government transmitted the names and the English versions of the curriculum vitae of the three candidates to the Advisory Panel of Experts on Candidates for election as Judge to the European Court of Human Rights. The French translations of the curricula vitae were sent to the Advisory Panel on 9 October 2013.

By letter of 16 October 2013, the Advisory Panel informed the Danish Government that the Panel had examined the curricula vitae of the three candidates and that the three candidates were found to meet the requirements of Article 21.1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

…

Appendix 1 – Karsten HAGEL-SØRENSEN

CURRICULUM VITAE [(1) Text in bold indicates posts or missions held at present.]

I. Personal details

Name, forename: Hagel-Sørensen, Karsten

Sex: Male

Date and place of birth: 6 March 1950, Vejle, Denmark

Nationality: Danish

II. Education and academic and other qualifications

• 1973: Master of law (cand. jur.) University of Copenhagen
• Part-time teacher in international law at the University of Copenhagen 1973-76 and 1979-1988 (tutor and external assistant professor)
• 1976-77: Assistant professor in international law at the University of Copenhagen
• Visiting scholar at the University of Berkeley, California, in the fall semester of 1980
• Censor (external examiner) at Copenhagen Business School (1985-92) and at the University of Copenhagen (1994-97)
• Adjunct professor at the University of Aarhus since December 2006
• In 2011, I completed the Arbitrator education recommended by the Association of Danish Law Firms

III. Relevant professional activities

a. Description of judicial activities

• 1973-1976: Head of section, Ministry of Justice
• 1976-1977: Assistant professor, University of Copenhagen
• 1977: Assistant prosecutor, The Regional prosecutor of Zealand
• 1978-1979: Head of Section, Ministry of Justice
• 1980-1988: Head of Office at the Ministry of Justice responsible for EU-law, in the period 1986-89 also head of the Ministry's office of Law Quality
• 1989-1991: Assistant deputy permanent secretary responsible for international affairs
• 1991-: Partner in the Law Firm Poul Schmith
• 2004-: Kammeradvokat (the Legal adviser to the Danish Government)
• During my service in the Ministry of Justice I was the Chairman of the Committee for EU-related Legal Questions (1980-1991) and participated in preparing the arguments of the government in numerous cases before the EU-Court of Justice.
• I also participated in preparing a few cases for the oral hearing at the European Court for Human Rights.

b. Description of non-judicial legal activities

• Member or Chairman of several expert committees preparing legislation
• Deputy member of the Labour Market Appeal Board
• Chairman of a committee set up by the Danish Bar Association considering a new structure for the organisation of lawyers (2006)
• Member of the editorial board of the Danish legal periodical Juristen

c. Description of non-legal professional activities

• Chairman of the foundation “Sagførernes Auktioners Legat” which benefits lawyers who have acted in a way which merits distinction.

IV. Activities and experience in the field of human rights

• 1989-1991: Danish member of the CDDH of the Council of Europe
• Chairman of an expert committee set up by the Danish Minister of Justice on the Incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in Danish Law. The Committee recommended that the convention should be incorporated, and the Parliament followed this recommendation (white Paper 1220/1991 with a summary in English).
• As a lawyer and as the Kammeradvokat I have argued a number of important cases in the Supreme Court on the interpretation of the convention and on other international instruments concerning racial discrimination, discrimination against women, ILO-conventions, the convention for the protection of refugees and, of course, a number of cases involving EU-law.
• I have participated in preparing cases for the oral hearing in the Court of Human Rights.

V. Public activities

a Public office: None

b Elected posts: None

c Posts held in a political party or movement: None

VI. Other activities:

None.

VII. Publications and other works

• EF-Ret/EU-Ret: a text book on general EU-law published in the first edition 1977 and the 6th edition in 1995. The first edition was written together with professor Isi Foighel and the subsequent editions with professor, advocate general and judge at the EU-Court Claus Gulmann.
• EU-Karnov, the Danish manual on EU-law. I wrote a large part of the third edition in 1990 and have been an editor of the following 9 editions, the 12th edition to appear in 2013. The editorial board now also includes professor dr. jur. Jens Hartig Danielsen, partner, advocate Peter Biering and assistant permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice Nina Holst-Christensen.
• Juridisk Grundbog, vol 2, Loven, 1989, a book on how to draft legislation. Written together with head of office John Vogter and head of section Henrik Dahl Sørensen from the Ministry of Justice.

I have written 30 papers or essays to legal periodicals, festschrifts etc., the following in English:

• The Danish Administration and its Interaction with the Community Administration, Common Market Law Review 1985 p. 273-300 (with professor Hjalte Rasmussen)
• The New Aspects of the Free Circulation of Persons, Towards a European Citizenship. Papers for the F.I.D.E. Congress in Lisbon 1992, vol. III, pp. 91-112
• Conflicts of Norms when Different Sources of Law Interact, in Koch, Hagel-Sørensen, Haltern & Weiler (eds): Europe, The New Legal Realism, Essays in Honour of Hjalte Rasmussen 2010, pp. 205-218

VIII. Languages

Language	Reading			Writing			Speaking
	Very good	Good	Fair	Very good	Good	Fair	Very good	Good	Fair
a. First language: – Danish	X			X			X
b. Official languages:
– English	X			X			X
– French		X				X		X
c. Other languages:
– German	X					X		X

IX. In the event that you do not meet the level of language proficiency required for the post of judge in an official language [the second], please confirm your intention to follow intensive language classes of the language concerned prior to, and if need be also at the beginning of, your term of duty if elected a judge on the Court.

I confirm my intention to follow intensive language classes of the languages concerned prior to, and if need be also at the beginning of my term of duty if elected a judge on the Court.

X. Other relevant information

My health condition is fine.

XI. Please confirm that you will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.

I confirm that I will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.

Appendix 2 – Nina HOLST-CHRISTENSEN

CURRICULUM VITAE [(2) Text in bold indicates posts or missions held at present.]

I. Personal details

Name, forename: Holst-Christensen, Nina

Sex: Female

Date and place of birth: 25 February 1960, Copenhagen

Nationality: Danish

II. Education and academic and other qualifications

Master of laws (cand. jur.) 1984, University of Copenhagen

III. Relevant professional activities

a. Description of judicial activities

• 1993-1994: Part-time deputy judge (deltidsdommerfuldmægtig) at the Court of Taarnby
• 1994: Part-time deputy judge (deltidsdommerfuldmægtig) at the Court of Ballerup

b. Description of non-judicial legal activities

• 1984-1987: Legal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• 1987-1994: Legal Adviser, Ministry of Justice
• 1987-1993: Part-time deputy public prosecutor (deltidspolitifuldmægtig) at the Copenhagen Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Regional Public Prosecutor for Sealand
• 1994: Senior Legal Adviser, Ministry of Justice
• 1995-2000: Head of Division of European Union Law and Human Rights, Ministry of Justice
• Since 2000: Commissioner in European Union Law and Human Rights, Ministry of Justice
• Since 2000: Agent of the Government of Denmark before the European Court of Human Rights in applications concerning alleged violations of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Co-Agent in the other applications against Denmark
• Since 2000: Chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the Government concerning European Union Law (EU-specialudvalget for juridiske spørgsmål)
• 1984-1989: Assistant lecturer of European Union Law (manuduktør) at the University of Copenhagen
• Since 1989: Associate professor of European Union Law (ekstern lektor) at the University of Copenhagen
• Since 1999: Editor of the Danish general commentary on European Union Law Legislation (EU-Karnov), Karnov Group
• Teaching from time to time in human rights at the Academy for Judges (Domstolsakademiet) and on courses for advocates

c. Description of non-legal professional activities:

None.

IV. Activities and experience in the field of human rights

• 1987-1989: Representative of Denmark in the Council of Europe Committee of Experts for the Improvement of Procedures for the Protection of Human Rights (DH-PR)
• 1999-2001: Member of the Government Committee on Incorporation of Human Rights Conventions into Danish Legislation on behalf of the Ministry of Justice
• 2000-2008: Representative of Denmark in the Council of Europe Steering Committee of Human Rights (CD-DH)
• Since 2000: Agent of the Government of Denmark before the European Court of Human Rights in applications concerning alleged violations of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Co-Agent in the other applications against Denmark (see above)
• Since 2000: Commissioner in European Law and Human Rights, Ministry of Justice (see above)
• January-June 2012: Chairperson of the EU Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP) during the Danish Presidency in the EU. The work as chairperson of FREMP included the file on EU Accession to the ECHR.
• 2012-2013: Representative of Denmark in the Council of Europe ad hoc group “47+1” in which the negotiations with the EU on EU Accession to the ECHR were finalized in April 2013.
• Since 2013: Member of the Government Committee on Human Rights (Menneskeretsudvalget). The task of the committee is i.a. to consider whether or not Denmark should incorporate the UN Human Rights Conventions into Danish legislation.

V. Public activities

a Public office: None

b Elected posts: None

c Posts held in a political party or movement: None

VI. Other activities

• Since 1999: Member of the Executive Committee of the Danish Association of European Law (Dansk Forening for Europaret)
• Since 2000: Member of the Executive Committee of the Danish Association of European Penal Law (Dansk Selskab for Europæisk Strafferet)
• Since 2006: Member of the Editorial Committee of the Danish European Union Law and Human Rights Journal (EU-Ret & Menneskeret), DJOEF Publishing

VII. Publications and other works

• (Jointly together with Peer Lorenzen and three others): Commentary on the European Convention on Human Rights (Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedskonvention med kommentarer), 2nd edition, DJOEF Publishing, Copenhagen 2003 and 2004 (two volumes). (Jointly together with Peer Lorenzen and four others):3rd edition, DJOEF Publishing, Copenhagen 2011 (two volumes).
• Furthermore, author of many articles on European Union Law and Human Rights related issues (published in the period from 1989 to 2013) of which the following may be seen as the most important titles concerning human rights:
• Is the ECHR enforceable in Denmark? (Gælder menneskerettighederne i Danmark?), The Danish Law Journal (Juristen) 1989, p. 48 ff.
• Screening of the consistency with the ECHR and other international conventions on human rights of the Danish Governmental Bills (Screening af danske regeringslovforslags overensstemmelse med Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedskonvention og andre internationale konventioner om menneskerettigheder), The Icelandic Law Journal (Timarit lögfrædinga), 2003, p. 421 ff.
• A reform of the European Court of Human Rights – Protocol No. 14 to the ECHR (En reform af Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedsdomstol – protokol nr. 14 til Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedskonvention om ændring af konventionens kontrolsystem), The Danish European Union Law and Human Rights Journal (EU-ret & Menneskeret) 2004, p. 209 ff.
• The European Court of Justice’ application of the jurisprudence from the European Court of Human Rights since 1991 (EF-Domstolens anvendelse af retspraksis fra Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedsdomstol siden 1991), article in a hommage volume to Carl Aage Nørgaard, 2004, pp. 151-175.
• (Together with another author): The jurisprudence from the European Court of Human Rights in the Danish applications (2002-2005), (Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedsdomstols praksis i danske klagesager (2002-2005)), The Danish European Union Law and Human Rights Journal (EU-ret & Menneskeret) 2005, p. 281 ff.
• New jurisprudence from the European Court of Human Rights in applications on length of procedure (Ny praksis ved Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedsdomstol i sager om lang sagsbehandlingstid), The Danish Weekly Law Reports, Ugeskrift for Retsvæsen 2006, B, p. 311 ff.
• The relationship between the case law on the right to family reunification according to Article 8 of the ECHR from the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice (Samspillet mellem Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedsdomstols praksis om ret til familiesammenføring efter EMRK artikel 8 og EF-Domstolens praksis), article in: “Menneskerettighedsdomstolen – 50 års samspil med dansk ret og politik”, Thomson Reuters, Copenhagen, 2009, pp. 225-231.
• The processing of the applications at the European Court of Human Rights (Sager ved Menneskerettighedsdomstolen), article in: “Proceduren”, DJOEF Publishing, Copenhagen, 2009, pp. 571-592.
• The application of the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights by the European Court of Justice after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (EU-Domstolens anvendelse af EU’s Charter om grundlæggende rettigheder efter Lissabon-Traktatens ikrafttrædelse), article in a hommage to Max Sørensen, the former Danish judge on the European Court of Human Rights, DJOEF Publishing, Copenhagen, 2013, pp. 315-343.

VIII. Languages

Language	Reading			Writing			Speaking
	very good	good	fair	very good	good	fair	very good	good	fair
a. First language:
– Danish	X			X			X
b. Official languages:
– English	X			X			X
– French		X				X			X
c. Other languages:
– Swedish and Norwegian	X				X			X

IX. In the event that you do not meet the level of language proficiency required for the post of judge in an official language [the second], please confirm your intention to follow intensive language classes of the language concerned prior to, and if need be also at the beginning of, your term of duty if elected a judge on the Court.

I confirm my intention concerning the French language.

X. Other relevant information:

N/A

XI. Please confirm that you will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.

I confirm that I will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.

Appendix 3 – Jon Fridrik KJØLBRO

CURRICULUM VITAE [(3) Text in bold indicates posts or missions held at present.]

I. Personal details

Name, forename: Kjølbro, Jon Fridrik

Sex: male

Date and place of birth: 2 June 1967, Gentofte, Denmark

Nationality: Danish

II. Education and academic and other qualifications

Master of Law, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, December 1992.

III. Relevant professional activities

• At present I am working as a high court judge at the Eastern High Court, Copenhagen. I have been working as a judge since 2003 and was appointed high court judge in 2005.
• When I graduated from university in December 1992, I was employed in the Ministry of Justice, where I was working until 2003, when I started my career as a judge.
• My main employment was in the Ministry of Justice. However, in addition to my work in the Ministry of Justice, I have had a variety of different part-time employments.
• Over the years I have achieved a broad legal and judicial experience from a variety of posts in different fields of law.
• At present I am working part time as a vice-chairman in the Refuge Board dealing with asylum cases.
• Below you will find further information about my different posts since university.

Main employments

• Ministry of Justice, Civil Department, head of section, from 14.12.92 to 14.10.94
• District Court of Torshavn, Faroe Islands, deputy judge, from 15.10.94 to 31.05.96
• Ministry of Justice, Law Department, European Union Law and Human Rights Division, head of section, from 01.06.96 to 31.12.00
• Ministry of Justice, Law Department, Penal Law Division, head of office, from 01.01.01 to 31.08.01
• Ministry of Justice, Law Department, Human Rights Office, head of office, from 01.09.01 to 01.02.03
• Eastern High Court, ad hoc judge, training and evaluation period, from 01.02.03 to 01.12.03
• Ministry of Justice, Law Department, Legal Office, head of office, from 01.12.03 to 16.01.04
• Eastern High Court, ad hoc judge, from 16.01.04 to 30.06.04
• District Court of Copenhagen, district court judge, from 01.07.04 to 31.03.05
• Eastern High Court, high court judge, since 01.04.05
• Eastern High Court, assisting president of section, since 01.03.10

Part-time employments

• Assisting prosecutor, District Prosecutors Office, Copenhagen, from 01.01.93 to 14.02.94
• Assisting prosecutor, State Prosecutors Office, Copenhagen, from 14.02.94 to 15.10.94
• Assisting prosecutor, State Prosecutors Office, Copenhagen, from 15.06.96 to 31.08.01
• Co-editor of a legal magazine on European Union Law and Human Rights (EU-ret & Menneskeret, DJØF’s Forlag) with responsibility for publication of summaries of leading cases from the European Court of Human Rights, from 01.07.00 to 31.12.10
• Secretary to the Committee on the incorporation of human rights conventions in Danish Law (Inkorporeringsudvalget, betænkning 1407/2001)
• Member of the Committee on the implementation of the Council Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (Ligebehandlingsudvalget, betænkning 1422/2002)
• Chairman of the working group on incorporation of Directive 2008/48/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 April 2008 on credit agreements for consumers (Arbejdsgruppen om forbrugerkreditdirektivet, betænkning 1509/2009)
• Vice-chairman of the Refugee Board since 01.05.12

Other activities

• For many years I have been teaching government officials, prosecutors, judges and other persons in particular on the European Convention on Human Rights.

IV. Activities and experience in the field of human rights

• I have been studying the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights since I graduated from university in 1992.
• From 1996 to 2003 I was working with Human Rights in the Law Department of the Ministry of Justice. I was working with individual applications lodged with the European Court of Human Rights as well as different United Nations committees. Furthermore, I was giving general and specific legal advice to ministries and public authorities on human rights issues in relation to adopted legislation and decisions. I have participated in national delegations before United Nations institutions. Furthermore, I have participated in meetings in different international bodies, including the Steering Committee on Human Rights (CDDH) of the Council of Europe.
• As a high court judge I have gained practical experience in applying the substantive and procedural rights of the European Convention on Human Rights as interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights.
• As vice-chairman of the Refugee Board, I have gained practical experience in applying inter alia the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights in asylum cases, in particular Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention.
• I have written a number of articles on human rights issues as well as a comprehensive book on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
• Furthermore, I have been teaching judges, prosecutors and government officials on human rights for many years.

V. Public activities

Reference is made to the information above.

VI. Other activities

Reference is made to the information above.

VII. Publications and other works

I have written a number of articles on human rights issues.

• The right to a trial within a reasonable time (Om menneskerettigheder og sagsbehandlingstider, EU-ret & Menneskeret, 1997, page 69).
• The case-law of the European Commission of Human Rights in Danish cases from 1989 to 1997 (Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedskommissions admissibilitetspraksis i danske klagesager (1989 til 1997), Ugeskrift for Retsvæsen, 1998, page 382) (co-author).
• Human Rights and Community Law (Om en menneskeretlig kontrol med EU-retten, EU-ret & Menneskeret, 1998, page 153).
• Prohibition of self-incrimination (Om selvinkriminering og strafsanktionerede oplysningspligter, EU-ret & Menneskeret, 1999, page 131).
• The case-law of the European Court of Human Rights in Danish cases from 1998 to 2001 (Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedsdomstols praksis i danske klagesager (1998-2001), EU-ret & Menneskeret, 2002, page 57) (co-author).
• Decisions on admissibility of the European Court of Human Rights in Danish cases from 1998 to 2001 (Udvalgte afvisningsafgørelser fra Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedsdomstol i danske klagesager i perioden fra 1998 til 2001, Ugeskrift for Retsvæsen, 2002, page 235) (co-author).
• Extradition and human rights (Om udlevering til strafforfølgning eller straffuldbyrdelse, EU-ret & Menneskeret, 2002, page 205).
• Illegally obtained evidence and human rights (Om ulovlige beviser og menneskerettigheder, EU-ret & Menneskeret, 2003, page 61).

I am author of a comprehensive commentary in Danish on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedskonvention – for praktikere, Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag). The first edition was published in 2005. The second edition was published in 2007. The third edition was published in 2010 and covers 1018 pages.

VIII. Languages

Language	Reading			Writing			Speaking
	very good	good	fair	very good	good	fair	very good	good	fair
a. First language:
– Danish	X			X			X
b. Official languages:
– English	X			X			X
– French	X					X			X
c. Other languages:
– Faroese	X					X	X

IX. Other relevant information

My wife and I have been married since 1988, and together we have three children. They are 15, 19 and 21 years and still live at home. Our oldest son is studying and is about to leave home to live on his own. Our second son is still in high school. Our youngest son will begin high school this summer.

XI. Please confirm that you will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.

I do confirm that I will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge of the Court. However, to begin with my wife and our two youngest children will remain in Denmark in order that the second oldest child may complete high school and the youngest child may complete the first year of high school.