Eight judges appointed to the EU Court of Justice

11/6/2025: The representatives of the governments of the member states appointed a judge to the Court of Justice and seven judges to the General Court.

First, Mr Marko Bošnjak (Slovenia) has been appointed judge to the Court of Justice as a replacement for Mr Marko Ilešic, who passed away, for the remainder of the term of office of the latter, which runs until 6 October 2027.

Second, the appointments to the General Court are part of the partial renewal of its composition, since the terms of office of 26 judges will expire on 31 August 2025.

In this context, Ms Raffaella Pezzuto (Italy) has been appointed judge to the General Court for a first term of office.

The terms of office of Mr Johannes Laitenberger and Ms Gabriele Steinfatt (Germany), Ms Danute Jočienė  (Lithuania), Ms Maja Brkan and Mr Damjan Kukovec (Slovenia), and Mr Jörgen Hettne (Sweden) have been renewed.

These appointments are for a term of office running from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2031. The two decisions will enter into force on the date of their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The Court of Justice of the European Union consists of two courts: the Court of Justice and the General Court.

The judges of the Court of Justice and of the General Court 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.

For appointment to the Court of Justice, candidates must possess the qualifications required for appointment, in their respective countries, to the highest judicial offices, or be jurisconsults of recognised competence.

For appointment to the General Court, candidates must possess the ability required for appointment to high judicial office. (source/photo: consilium.europa.eu)

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