Erkki Kourula

Who is Erkki Kourula?

Erkki Kourula is a Finnish judge who currently serves as a judge of the International Criminal Court, which was established by treaty and began in July 2002. The first election of judges to the court was held in 2003, when Judge Kourula was elected for an initial term of three years. He was re-elected in 2006 for a further nine-year term. He was elected from List B, the list of judges with specific experience and knowledge of international law. List A consists of judges who have experience in criminal law. At the ICC, Judge Kourula is a member of the appeals division, a position he has held since his election to the court. He is the first Finn to be elected as an International Criminal Court judge.

Judge Kourula holds a degree in law from the University of Helsinki and a doctorate in international law from the University of Oxford. In 1979, he was appointed as a judge of first instance in Finland.