UK submits shortlist for next judge elected to the European Court of Human Rights

Three candidates have been nominated to be the next European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judge elected in respect of the UK in succession to Tim Eicke KC. The ECtHR is established under the European Convention of Human Rights and sits in Strasbourg. A member of the Court is elected in respect of each of the 46 member States of the Council of Europe, by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), from lists of 3 candidates proposed by each State.

Following an open selection process administered by the Judicial Appointments Commission for England and Wales, the United Kingdom candidates, listed in alphabetical order, are:

• Mr Hugh Mercer KC, a UK barrister and Deputy High Court Judge
• Ms Deok Joo Rhee KC, a UK barrister
• Mr Sam Wordsworth KC, a UK barrister

One of these candidates will be elected by PACE during its plenary session 23 to 27 June 2025 for a 9-year term from 12 September 2025.