Dean Spielmann

Dean Spielmann
President of the
European Court of Human Rights
In office
1 November 2012 – 31 October 2015
Preceded byNicolas Bratza
Succeeded byGuido Raimondi
Judge of the
European Court of Human Rights
in respect of Luxembourg
In office
24 June 2004 – 31 October 2015
Preceded byMarc Fischbach
Succeeded byGeorges Ravarani
Advocate General at the
European Court of Justice
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 October 2024
Personal details
Born (1962-10-26) 26 October 1962 (age 64)
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
EducationCatholic University of Louvain
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
ProfessionLawyer

Dean Spielmann (born 26 October 1962) is a Luxembourgish lawyer and a former president of the European Court of Human Rights. Since 2024 he served as an advocate general at the European Court of Justice.

Previously Spielmann has been a judge of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Luxembourg between 2004 and 2015, including as the Court's elected vice-president and president. In 2016, he was appointed as a judge at the General Court of the European Union where he served until 2024.

He is also a member of the Grand Ducal Institute of Luxembourg and has held academic posts at the universities of Luxembourg, Nancy and Louvain.

Early life

Spielmann was born in Luxembourg and studied law at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium (bachelor's degree, 1988) and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge in the United Kingdom (Master of Laws, 1990).

Spielmann was admitted to the Luxembourg Bar in 1989, practising there until 2004. From 1991 to 1997, he was assistant lecturer in criminal law at the Catholic University of Louvain. He also taught at the University of Luxembourg from 1996 to 2004 and the University of Nancy from 1997 to 2008.

Spielmann was the judge of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Luxembourg between 24 June 2004 and 31 October 2015. He served as president of the Fifth Section of the Court between 1 February 2011 and 31 October 2012, including as vice-president of the Court between 13 September 2012 and 31 October 2012. In 2012, he was elected president of the Court for a three-year term between 1 November 2012 and 31 October 2015.

On 13 April 2016, Spielmann was appointed as a judge at the General Court of the European Union where he served as a president of chamber between 30 September 2019 and 6 October 2024. On 27 March 2024, he was appointed as an advocate general at the European Court of Justice, with effect from 7 October 2024.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dean Spielmann, judge in respect of Luxembourg, today elected President of the European Court of Human Rights
  2. 1 2 "Judges of the Court". European Court of Human Rights. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  3. ↑ "Spielmann Vice-President of ECHR". Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. 10 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "Dean Spielmann". ECHR. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "The Members". Court of Justice of the European Union. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Beschluss (EU) 2024/1036 der Vertreter der Regierungen der Mitgliedstaaten vom 27. März 2024 zur Ernennung von drei Richtern und zwei Generalanwälten beim Gerichtshof". Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union (in German). 3 April 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2025.