Justice Minister (Denmark)

Danish cabinet member From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Danish Minister of Justice (Danish: Justitsministeren) is the head of the Ministry of Justice and a cabinet member.

TypeMinister
Member of
Reports tothe Prime minister
SeatSlotsholmen
Quick facts Minister of Justice, Type ...
Minister of Justice
Justitsminister
State coat of arms of the Kingdom of Denmark
since 3 June 2026
Ministry of Justice
TypeMinister
Member of
Reports tothe Prime minister
SeatSlotsholmen
AppointerThe Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Formation22 March 1848; 178 years ago (1848-03-22)
First holderCarl Emil Bardenfleth
Successiondepending on the order in the State Council
DeputyPermanent Secretary
Salary1.624.503,02 DKK
(€217,931), in 2026[1]
WebsiteOfficial website
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As of 2026, the Minister of Justice is Nicolai Wammen.[2]

Authority

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the enforcement of safety, security, law and justice in Denmark. In criminal proceedings, it has oversight over the Police of Denmark, the Danish Security and Intelligence Service, the Courts of Denmark, and the Danish Prison and Probation Service.[3][4]

Legislation

In 2023, the Justice Minister announced that the Danish government would ban public desecration of religious scriptures such as the Quran.[5]

In 2024, the Justice Minister announced that the Danish government would require parental consent for children under the age of 15 to create profiles on social media platforms such as TikTok.[6]

List of justice ministers (1848–present)

Ministers under Frederick VII (1848–1863)

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(born–died)		 Term of office Political party Government Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Carl Emil Bardenfleth
(1807–1857)		 22 March 1848 13 July 1851 3 years, 113 days Independent Moltke I–II [7][8]
2 Anton Wilhelm Scheel [da]
(1799–1879)		 13 July 1851 15 January 1855 3 years, 186 days Independent Moltke III–IV
Bluhme I
Ørsted
Bang		 [9][10]
[11][12]
[13]
3 Carl Frederik Simony [da]
(1806–1872)		 15 January 1855 2 December 1859 4 years, 321 days National Liberal Bang
Andræ
Hall I		 [13][14]
[15]
4 Carl Edvard Rotwitt
(1812–1860)		 2 December 1859 8 February 1860 # 68 days Society of the Friends of Peasants Rotwitt [16]
– Johan Christian von Jessen [da]
(1817–1884)
acting		 8 February 1860 24 February 1860 16 days National Liberal Rotwitt [16]
5 Andreas Lorenz Casse [da]
(1803–1886)		 24 February 1860 11 July 1864 4 years, 138 days National Liberal Hall II [17]
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Ministers under Christian IX (1863–1906)

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(born–died)		 Term of office Political party Government Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
6 Eugenius Sophus Ernst Heltzen [da]
(1818–1898)		 11 July 1864 13 March 1865 245 days Højre Hall II [17]
7 Cosmus Bræstrup [da]
(1789–1870)		 7 April 1865 6 November 1865 213 days Højre Bluhme II [18]
8 Carl Peter Gram Leuning [da]
(1820–1867)		 6 November 1865 21 July 1867 # 1 year, 257 days National Liberal Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs [19]
9 Theodor Rosenørn-Teilmann [da]
(1817–1879)		 21 July 1867 17 August 1868 1 year, 27 days Independent Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs [19]
10 Carl von Nutzhorn [da]
(1828–1899)		 17 August 1868 28 May 1870 1 year, 284 days Independent Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs [19]
11 Andreas Frederik Krieger
(1817–1893)		 28 May 1870 1 July 1872 1 year, 309 days National Liberal Holstein-Holsteinborg [20]
12 Christian Sophus Klein
(1824–1900)		 1 July 1872 11 June 1875 3 years, 71 days National Liberal Holstein-Holsteinborg
Fonnesbech		 [20][21]
13 Johannes Nellemann
(1831–1906)		 11 June 1875 13 June 1896 21 years, 2 days Højre Estrup
Reedtz-Thott		 [22][23]
14 Nicolai Reimer Rump
(1834–1900)		 13 June 1896 28 August 1899 3 years, 76 days Højre Reedtz-Thott
Hørring		 [23][24]
15 Hugo Egmont Hørring
(1842–1909)		 28 August 1899 27 April 1900 242 days Højre Hørring [24]
16 Carl Goos
(1835–1917)		 27 April 1900 24 July 1901 1 year, 88 days Højre Sehested [25]
17 Peter Adler Alberti
(1851–1932)		 24 July 1901 24 July 1908 7 years, 0 days Venstre Reform Deuntzer
Christensen I		 [26][27]
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Ministers under Frederik VIII (1906–1912)

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(born–died)		 Term of office Political party Government Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
18 Svend Høgsbro [da]
(1855–1910)		 24 July 1908 28 October 1909 1 year, 96 days Venstre Reform Party Christensen II
Neergaard I
Holstein-Ledreborg		 [28][29]
[30]
19 Carl Theodor Zahle
(1866–1946)		 28 October 1909 5 July 1910 250 days Social Liberal Zahle I [31]
20 Frits Bülow
(1872–1955)		 5 July 1910 21 June 1913 2 years, 351 days Venstre Berntsen [32]
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Ministers under Christian X (1912–1947)

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(born–died)		 Term of office Political party Government Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
(19) Carl Theodor Zahle
(1866–1946)		 21 June 1913 30 March 1920 6 years, 283 days Social Liberal Zahle II [33]
21 Otto Liebe
(1866–1946)		 30 March 1920 2 April 1920 3 days Independent Liebe [34]
22 Kristian Sindballe [da]
(1884–1953)		 2 April 1920 5 April 1920 3 days Independent Liebe [34]
23 Frederik Carl Gram Schrøder
(1866–1936)		 5 April 1920 5 May 1920 30 days Independent Friis [35]
24 Svenning Rytter [da]
(1875–1957)		 5 May 1920 23 April 1924 3 years, 354 days Venstre Neergaard II–III [36][37]
25 Karl Kristian Steincke
(1880–1962)		 23 April 1924 14 December 1926 2 years, 235 days Social Democrats Stauning I [38]
(24) Svenning Rytter [da]
(1875–1957)		 14 December 1926 30 April 1929 2 years, 137 days Venstre Madsen-Mygdal [39]
(19) Carl Theodor Zahle
(1866–1946)		 30 April 1929 4 November 1935 6 years, 188 days Social Liberal Stauning II [40]
(25) Karl Kristian Steincke
(1880–1962)		 4 November 1935 15 September 1939 2 years, 235 days Social Democrats Stauning III [41]
26 Svend Unmack Larsen
(1893–1965)		 15 September 1939 8 July 1940 297 days Social Democrats Stauning IV–V [42][43]
27 Harald Petersen [da]
(1895–1977)		 8 July 1940 9 July 1941 1 year, 1 day Independent Stauning VI [44]
28 Eigil Thune Jacobsen [da]
(1880–1949)		 9 July 1941 29 August 1943 2 years, 51 days Independent Stauning VI
Buhl I
Scavenius		 [44][45]
[46]
No Danish government in between August 29, 1943 (1943-08-29) and May 5, 1945 (1945-05-05). Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.[a]
29 Niels Busch-Jensen [da]
(1886–1987)		 5 May 1945 7 November 1945 186 days Social Democrats Buhl II [47]
30 Aage Ludvig Holberg Elmquist [da]
(1888–1962)		 7 November 1945 13 November 1947 2 years, 6 days Venstre Kristensen [48]
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Ministers under Frederik IX (1947–1972)

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(born–died)		 Term of office Political party Government Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
(29) Niels Busch-Jensen [da]
(1886–1987)		 13 November 1947 25 February 1950 2 years, 104 days Social Democrats Hedtoft I [49]
– Vilhelm Buhl
(1881–1954)
acting		 25 February 1950 4 March 1950 7 days Social Democrats Hedtoft I [49]
(25) Karl Kristian Steincke
(1880–1962)		 4 March 1950 30 October 1950 240 days Social Democrats Hedtoft I–II [49][50]
31 Helga Pedersen
(1911–1980)		 30 October 1950 1 October 1953 2 years, 336 days Venstre Eriksen [51]
32 Hans Erling Hækkerup [da]
(1907–1974)		 1 October 1953 26 September 1964 10 years, 361 days Social Democrats Hedtoft III
Hansen I–II
Kampmann I–II
Krag I		 [52][53]
[54][55]
[56][57]
33 Knud Axel Nielsen [da]
(1904–1994)		 26 September 1964 2 February 1968 3 years, 129 days Social Democrats Krag II [58]
34 Knud Thestrup [da]
(1900–1980)		 2 February 1968 11 October 1971 3 years, 251 days Conservative People's Party Baunsgaard [59]
(32) Knud Axel Nielsen [da]
(1904–1994)		 11 October 1971 27 September 1973 1 year, 351 days Social Democrats Krag III
Jørgensen I		 [60][61]
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Ministers under Margrethe II (1972–2024)

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(born–died)		 Term of office Political party Government Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
35 Karl Hjortnæs [da]
(born 1934)		 27 September 1973 19 December 1973 83 days Social Democrats Jørgensen I [61]
36 Nathalie Lind
(1918–1999)		 19 December 1973 13 February 1975 1 year, 56 days Venstre Hartling [62]
37 Orla Møller
(1916–1979)		 13 February 1975 1 October 1977 2 years, 230 days Social Democrats Jørgensen II [63]
38 Erling Johannes Jensen [da]
(1919–2000)		 1 October 1977 30 August 1978 333 days Social Democrats Jørgensen II [63]
(36) Nathalie Lind
(1918–1999)		 30 August 1978 26 October 1979 1 year, 57 days Venstre Jørgensen III [64]
39 Henning Rasmussen [da]
(1926–1997)		 26 October 1979 20 January 1981 1 year, 86 days Social Democrats Jørgensen IV [65]
40 Ole Espersen
(1934–2020)		 20 January 1981 10 September 1982 1 year, 233 days Social Democrats Jørgensen IV–V [65][66]
41 Erik Ninn-Hansen
(1922–2014)		 10 September 1982 10 January 1989 6 years, 122 days Conservative People's Party Schlüter I–II–III [67][68]
[69]
42 Hans Peter Clausen [da]
(1928–1998)		 10 January 1989 5 October 1989 268 days Conservative People's Party Schlüter III [69]
43 Hans Engell
(born 1948)		 5 October 1989 25 January 1993 3 years, 112 days Conservative People's Party Schlüter III–IV [69][70]
44 Pia Gjellerup
(born 1959)		 25 January 1993 29 March 1993 63 days Social Democrats P. N. Rasmussen I [71]
45 Erling Olsen
(1927–2011)		 29 March 1993 27 September 1994 1 year, 182 days Social Democrats P. N. Rasmussen I [71]
46 Bjørn Westh
(born 1944)		 27 September 1994 30 December 1996 2 years, 94 days Social Democrats P. N. Rasmussen II [72]
47 Frank Jensen
(born 1961)		 30 December 1996 27 November 2001 4 years, 332 days Social Democrats P. N. Rasmussen III–IV [73][74]
48 Lene Espersen
(born 1965)		 27 November 2001 10 September 2008 6 years, 288 days Conservative People's Party A. F. Rasmussen I–II–III [75][76]
[77]
49 Brian Mikkelsen
(born 1966)		 10 September 2008 23 February 2010 1 year, 166 days Conservative People's Party A. F. Rasmussen III
L. L. Rasmussen I		 [77][78]
50 Lars Barfoed
(born 1957)		 23 February 2010 3 October 2011 1 year, 166 days Conservative People's Party L. L. Rasmussen I [78]
51 Morten Bødskov
(born 1970)		 3 October 2011 12 December 2013 2 years, 70 days Social Democrats Thorning-Schmidt I [79]
52 Karen Hækkerup
(born 1974)		 12 December 2013 10 October 2014 302 days Social Democrats Thorning-Schmidt I–II [79]
53 Mette Frederiksen
(born 1977)		 10 October 2014 28 June 2015 251 days Social Democrats Thorning-Schmidt II [80]
54 Søren Pind
(born 1969)		 28 June 2015 28 November 2016 1 year, 153 days Venstre L. L. Rasmussen II [81]
55 Søren Pape Poulsen
(1971–2024)		 28 November 2016 27 June 2019 2 years, 211 days Conservative People's Party L. L. Rasmussen III [82]
56 Nick Hækkerup
(born 1968)		 27 June 2019 2 May 2022 2 years, 309 days Social Democrats Frederiksen I [83]
57 Mattias Tesfaye
(born 1981)		 2 May 2022 15 December 2022 227 days Social Democrats Frederiksen I [83]
58 Peter Hummelgaard
(born 1983)		 15 December 2022 3 June 2026 3 years, 170 days Social Democrats Frederiksen II [84]
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Ministers under Frederik X (2024–present)

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(born–died)		 Term of office Political party Government Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
59 Nicolai Wammen
(born 1971)		 3 June 2026 Incumbent 71 days Social Democrats Frederiksen III [85]
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  • According to the data provided above, Helga Pedersen was the first female to serve as the Minister of Justice in Denmark.[86]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    On 29 August 1943, the Danish government resigned, refusing to grant further concessions to Nazi Germany. All government operations were assumed by the permanent secretaries of the individual departments, and this arrangement lasted until the Liberation of Denmark on 5 May 1945. Since King Christian X never accepted the resignation of the government, it existed de jure until a new cabinet was formed on 5 May 1945.

References

External links

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