Vera Louise Holmøy

Vera Louise Holmøy, née Andersson (27 April 1931 – 12 December 2021) was a Norwegian judge. She was the third woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Norway, doing so from 1976 to 2001.

Early life and education She was born in Oslo as a daughter of Victor Arnold Andersson and Ingeborg née Fredriksen. Both her paternal grandparents were born in Sweden, hence the surname. Vera Andersson finished her secondary education with the examen artium in 1949 Near the end of her Supreme Court tenure, her grade was also above the 2.30 average within the college at the time, placing her in the upper third within the college overall, though by very small margins.

In May 1956 she married Tor Ragnvald Holmøy, who also became a judge.

Career in law At the time Vera Holmøy studied law, few women studied this subject, and there was not a single female judge in Norway. Lilly Bølviken became the first in 1952. The prospects of Vera Holmøy having a career as a judge were not apparent, but she entered civil service. She was hired as a secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1954, She chaired a commission that was tasked to revise Norwegian copyright law. Working from 1977 to 1988, the commission produced six Norwegian Official Reports. Among others, she was remembered for voting for the conviction of Jack Erik Kjuus.

Holmøy was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1987. She had two sons and died at the age of 90.