Astri Aas-Hansen
Norwegian politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Astri Aas-Hansen (born 16 December 1970) is a Norwegian lawyer and politician for the Labour Party.[1] She has served as the minister of justice since February 2025.
Astri Aas-Hansen | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Minister of Justice and Public Security | |
| Assumed office 4 February 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Jonas Gahr Støre |
| Preceded by | Emilie Mehl |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 December 1970 Lillesand, Aust-Agder, Norway |
| Party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Oslo |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Political career
From 1995 to 2002 she worked as an advisor for the Labour Party.
In 2005, when Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet assumed office, she was appointed a political adviser in the Ministry of Justice and the Police. She was promoted to State Secretary in February 2007, and remained there until April 2013.[2]
She joined the Norwegian Parliamentary Intelligence Oversight Committee in 2019 and served as its deputy leader from 2019 to 2021, when she took over as leader.[3][4]
Minister of Justice
Following the Centre Party's withdrawal from government, she was appointed minister of justice and public security on 4 February 2025.[5]
2025
Upon becoming justice minister, she expressed skepticism and doubt about her predecessor's proposal of allowing the police to search people without cause.[6]
She announced in early March that the government would be aiming to propose a sexual consent law by Easter, fulfilling an objective made in the government's platform. The proposal did however face some criticism by defence attorney Mette Yvonne Larsen, who argued that the law would contribute to issues with evidence and potentially compromising the security of the judicial system.[7] Once the proposal was presented, a draft was subsequently sent to the Storting and was later approved in June.[8]
In October, she announced that the government would be seeking to increase the amount of time the police can keep fifteen to eighteen-year-olds in custody in severe criminal cases. Additionally, she stated that they also would seek to increase the amount of time the police can hold individuals under the age of fifteen in custody and also increase the sentence for carrying weapons in public spaces.[9]
2026
In February 2026, she announced that the government would be removing collective protection for Ukrainian men between 18 and 60, with a few exceptions, with the intention for them to follow the regular immigration process and rules when applying for asylum.[10]
Civic career
From 2002 to 2017, she worked as a lawyer. She has also given lectures at the University of Oslo and Nesna University College.
Following her stint in Stoltenberg's second government, she returned to her former job in Advokatfirmaet Elden.[11]
In 2017, she became a district court judge at the Oslo District Court.[12]