Julia Laffranque

Julia Laffranque (born Vahing; 25 July 1974), is an Estonian jurist, judge, legal scientist (doctor iuris), visiting professor of European law Justice at the Supreme Court of Estonia, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights 2011 - 2020 (Vice-President of the Second Section of the European Court of Human Rights 2015-2018). Since 4 June 2018 also a member of the Scientific Committee of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency, earlier professor of European law at the University of Tartu. Since 2020 member of the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Academy of European Law Trier (Europäische Rechtsakademie, ERA). In 2019 she was a candidate for the post of European Ombudsman. In 2020 she was appointed as Director of Programme of the European Law Academy (ERA) and in 2021 the Council of the European Union on the proposal of European Parliament by 586 votes in favor, appointed her as a member of Article 255 TFEU panel, which is to give opinion on candidates suitability to perform the duties of judge and advocate general of the Court of Justice and the General Court of the European Union. Education She graduated with outstanding honors of the Litchfield High School, Connecticut, USA in 1991. She graduated with a gold of the Tallinna Õismäe Humanitaargümnaasium 1992. In 1997 she graduated the Law Faculty of Tartu University (including studies at the Law Faculty of Hamburg University 1994–1995) and in 1998 she received her Master's degree in law (magistra legum, LL.M.) of the Law Faculty of Münster University, Germany, summa cum laude. She attended doctoral studies at the University of Kiel and the European University Institute in Florence and in 2003 received her doctoral degree in jurisprudence (doctor iuris, dr. iur.) University of Tartu. Career 1996 – 2004 – Ministry of Justice of Estonia: head of the EU law and foreign relations division, 2002 - 2004 Deputy Secretary General on Legislative Drafting; 2004 – 2010 – justice at the Supreme Court of Estonia (member of the administrative law chamber), 2007 – 2010 member of the constitutional review chamber of the Supreme Court; 2006 – 2011 – docent of European Union Law at the Law Faculty of Tartu University, later (2011-2016) professor of European law at the same faculty; 2011 – 2020 – judge at the European Court of Human Rights(EHCR) (2015 - 2018 Vice- President of II Section) and Professor of European Law at the University of Tartu (since 2017 honorary professor).