Electing Team Strasbourg: Professional Diversity on the European Court of Human Rights and Why it Matters

Abstract

Reforms to the process for electing judges to international tribunals, including the European Court of Human Rights, have generally focused on attracting and identifying the most qualified individuals. This article argues for a more holistic approach, defending a theory of why professional diversity on the European Court of Human Rights is an asset to its collegial decision-making. The results of original interviews with several Strasbourg judges are presented, followed by an empirical analysis of the professional backgrounds of all judges elected to the European Court of Human Rights since 1998. Although the interviews indicate that the judges themselves value professional diversity, the quantitative evidence suggests a trend in the direction of a more professionally homogenous bench. The article concludes with some suggestions for promoting professional diversity in future reforms to the process for electing Strasbourg’s judges.