Chancellor of Justice (Finland) explained

The chancellor of justice (Finnish: oikeuskansleri, Swedish: justitiekanslern) is a Finnish government official who supervises authorities', such as cabinet ministers', compliance with the law and advances legal protection of Finnish citizens. The chancellor investigates complaints against authorities' activities and may also start an investigation of his or her own initiative.[1] The chancellor attends cabinet meetings to ensure that legal procedures and regulations are followed. The chancellor has wide-ranging oversight, investigative and prosecutorial powers.

The Chancellor and a deputy are appointed by the President of Finland. The Chancellor is appointed for life.

The incumbent Chancellor of Justice is Tuomas Pöysti.

History

The Office of the Chancellor of Justice dates back to the 18th century, when Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. When Finland was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1809 as an autonomous Grand Duchy, the legal system largely remained the same. The functions of the Chancellor of Justice, however, were assigned to the procurator, who assisted the Governor-General in supervising obedience to the law.

A year after Finland declared its independence in 1917, the title and office of Chancellor of Justice was re-established. The first incumbent of this restored institution was Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, who had served as the speaker of the Parliament and who was later to become the third President of Finland. In 1919, the post of Parliamentary Ombudsman was created. The Ombudsman and the Chancellor of Justice share many duties.

Duties

List of Chancellors

Chancellor of JusticeIn Office[2]
P. E. Svinhufvud1917-1918
1918–1928
Urho Castrén1928–1929
Albert von Hellens1930
Albert Makkonen1930–1933
1933–1944
1944–1950
1950–1955
1956–1961
1961–1964
1964–1965
1965–1970
1970–1982
1982–1986
Jorma S. Aalto1986–1998
Paavo Nikula1998–2007
2007–2017
2017–2018 (acting)
2018–
Deputy Chancellors of JusticeIn Office
1918–1926
1926–1928
1928–1933
Carl Gustaf Möller1933–1950
1950–1956
1956–1965
1965–1971
1971–1974
1974–1981
1981–2001
2001–2007
2007–2014
2014-2017
2017
2018-

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Duties and activities – The office of the chancellor of justice. www.okv.fi. 2019-07-14. 2020-12-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204203155/http://www.okv.fi/en/chancellor/duties-and-activities/. dead.
  2. Web site: Historia – Oikeuskanslerinvirasto. www.okv.fi. 2019-07-14. 2021-11-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20211104203723/http://www.okv.fi/fi/oikeuskansleri/historia-copy/. dead.