Piotr Hofmański

His Excellency The Honourable
Piotr Hofmański
Hofmański in 2022
5th President of the International Criminal Court
In office
11 March 2021 – 10 March 2024 [1]
Appointed byJudges of the ICC
Preceded byChile Eboe-Osuji
Succeeded byTomoko Akane
Judge of the International Criminal Court
In office
11 March 2015 – 10 March 2024 [1]
Nominated byPoland
Appointed byAssembly of States Parties
Personal details
Born
Piotr Józef Hofmański

(1956-03-06) 6 March 1956 (age 68)
Poznań, Poland
EducationNicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
University of Silesia in Katowice
OccupationJurist

Piotr Józef Hofmański (born 6 March 1956) is a Polish jurist and judge who served as President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from 2021 to 2024 and as a judge of the ICC from 2015 to 2024. Prior to this tenure, Hofmański was a legal expert and advisor at the Council of Europe.[2]

Early life and education

Piotr Hofmański was born in Poznań, Polish People's Republic on 6 March 1956. He obtained his master of laws degree from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in 1978. He got his doctor of laws degree from the same university in 1981. He habilitated at the University of Silesia in Katowice in 1990.[2]

Council of Europe

In 2001–2002 he was working as an expert at the Council of Europe in the Reflection Group on developments in international cooperation in criminal matters and in 2004–2006 in the Committee of Experts on Transnational Justice.[3]

Judge

He began his career as a judge on the bench of the appellate court in Białystok in 1994. In 1996–2015 he was a judge in the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Poland. In 1999 he served as the court's spokesperson.[2]

In December 2014 he was elected as a judge of the International Criminal Court for the 2015–2024 term.[4] He was the first person from Poland elected to that post.[5] He was officially sworn in on 10 March 2015 with five other judges.[6][7][8] In March 2021 he was elected President of the International Criminal Court for the term 2021–2024.[9] He served with judges Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza and Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua as his Vice-presidents.[9]

In September 2023, Russia issued an arrest warrant for Hofmański on unspecified charges, allegedly in retaliation for the ICC having issued a warrant against President Vladimir Putin.[10]

Decorations

In 2000 he was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit by the President Aleksander Kwaśniewski.[11]

Personal life

He is fluent in Polish, English and German. He is married and has three daughters.[3]

Publications

Hofmański authored and co-authored more than 300 publications regarding various aspects of criminal law and procedure, international cooperation in criminal matters and human rights protection. Many of his publications have been written and published in German and/or English.[2][4][8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Six new judges sworn in today at the seat of the International Criminal Court" (Press release). International Criminal Court. March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024. six judges whose 9-year terms are coming to an end on 10 March 2024
  2. ^ a b c d "prof. zw. dr hab. Piotr Hofmański". Katedra Postępowania Karnego (in Polish). 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  3. ^ a b "Prof. Piotr Hofmański". www.tamprawo.org. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  4. ^ a b "Judge Piotr Hofmański". www.icc-cpi.int. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  5. ^ S.A, Telewizja Polska. "Pole becomes new Head of International Criminal Court". polandin.com. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  6. ^ "Six new judges sworn in today at the seat of the International Criminal Court". www.icc-cpi.int. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  7. ^ "Meet the ICC's new judges | Coalition for the International Criminal Court Spanish". www.coalitionfortheicc.org. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  8. ^ a b Unlimited, Communications (2014-12-10). "Prof. Hofmański is the first Polish judge chosen for the International Criminal Court". Communications Unlimited. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  9. ^ a b "New ICC Presidency elected for 2021–2024". www.icc-cpi.int. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  10. ^ Chiappa, Claudia (25 September 2023). "Russia puts international court's top leadership on wanted list". Politico.
  11. ^ "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 15 czerwca 2000 r. o nadaniu odznaczeń". isap.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 2021-03-12.