Minister for Justice (Sweden)

The Minister for Justice, (justitieminister), formally cabinet minister and head of the Ministry of Justice, is a member and minister of the Government of Sweden and is appointed by the Prime Minister. The minister is responsible for policies related to combating terrorism, democracy and human rights, family law, the judicial system and the Constitution of Sweden.

The current Minister for Justice is Gunnar Strömmer of the Moderate Party.

History
The office was instituted in 1809 as a result of the constitutional Instrument of Government promulgated in the same year. Until 1876 the office was called Prime Minister for Justice (justitiestatsminister), similar to the office of Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs (utrikesstatsminister). Until 1840, the Prime Minister for Justice also served as a member of the Supreme Court. Following the ministry reform in 1840, the Prime Minister for Justice became head of the newly instituted Ministry of Justice. In 1876 the office proper of Prime Minister of Sweden was created and at the same time the Minister for Justice was created. Before 1876 the Prime Minister for Justice had in practice been granted exclusively to members of the most prominent noble families.

Ministers for Justice (1876–present)

 * Status


 * According to the data above, Anna-Greta Leijon was the first female appointed as the Minister for Justice (1983). However, Laila Freivalds was the first female with a legal credential to become the Minister for Justice (1988–1991; 1994–2000)--as Leijon had a labor background.