Court of Justice of the European Union: appointment of nine judges

On 28 February 2018, the representatives of the governments of the member states appointed nine judges and three advocates-general to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Their term of office is six years, starting from 7 October 2018.

The appointments were made as part of the partial renewal of the composition of the Court of Justice, which takes place every three years.

Eight persons were reappointed as judges:

• Mr Alexander Arabadjiev (Bulgaria)
• Mr Jean-Claude Bonichot (France)
• Mr Thomas von Danwitz (Germany)
• Mr Carl Gustav Fernlund (Sweden)
• Mr Egils Levits (Latvia)
• Mr Constantinos Lycourgos (Cyprus)
• Mr Jiří Malenovský (Czech Republic)
• Ms Alexandra (Sacha) Prechal (Netherlands)

Ms Lucia Serena Rossi (Italy) was newly appointed as judge.

Mr Yves Bot (France), Mr Giovanni Pitruzzella (Italy) and Mr Maciej Szpunar (Poland) were appointed as advocates-general. The appointment of Mr Bot and Mr Szpunar was a renewal of their term of office.

In total, the term of office of 14 judges and five advocates-general will expire on 6 October 2018. Five judges and two advocates-general still have to be appointed in 2018.

The Court of Justice is composed of one judge from each member state and eleven advocates-general. The judges and advocates-general are appointed for a term of office of six years, which is renewable. Every three years a partial replacement of judges and advocates-general takes place.

The judges and advocates-general are appointed by common accord of the governments of the member states after consultation of a panel responsible for giving an opinion on prospective candidates’ suitability to perform the duties concerned. They are chosen from among individuals whose independence is beyond doubt and who possess the qualifications required for appointment, in their respective countries, to the highest judicial offices, or who are of recognised competence.

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