Dean Spielmann

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).

Legal career 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.

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.