Julia Laffranque (born Vahing; 25 July 1974), is an Estonian jurist, judge, legal scientist (doctor iuris), visiting professor of European law Justice at the Supreme Court of Estonia, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights 2011 - 2020 (Vice-President of the Second Section of the European Court of Human Rights 2015-2018). Since 4 June 2018 also a member of the Scientific Committee of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency, earlier professor of European law at the University of Tartu. Since 2020 member of the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Academy of European Law Trier (Europäische Rechtsakademie, ERA). In 2019 she was a candidate for the post of European Ombudsman. In 2020 she was appointed as Director of Programme of the European Law Academy (ERA) and in 2021 the Council of the European Union on the proposal of European Parliament by 586 votes in favor, appointed her as a member of Article 255 TFEU panel, which is to give opinion on candidates suitability to perform the duties of judge and advocate general of the Court of Justice and the General Court of the European Union.

Education

She graduated with outstanding honors of the Litchfield High School, Connecticut, USA in 1991. She graduated with a gold of the Tallinna Õismäe Humanitaargümnaasium 1992. In 1997 she graduated the Law Faculty of Tartu University (including studies at the Law Faculty of Hamburg University 1994–1995) and in 1998 she received her Master's degree in law (magistra legum, LL.M.) of the Law Faculty of Münster University, Germany, summa cum laude. She attended doctoral studies at the University of Kiel and the European University Institute in Florence and in 2003 received her doctoral degree in jurisprudence (doctor iuris, dr. iur.) University of Tartu.

Career

Secondments, membership

Books

Honours

Personal life

Amateur actress of the Vilde theatre in Tartu, Estonia since 2006 and of the Tagora theatre at Council of Europe in Strasbourg since 2011. Director of children's plays at the Estonian School in Strasbourg since 2013. Founder and initiator of the Theatre Club of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg 2015. She is married to French jurist Rodolphe Laffranque, has three children; and is the daughter of writer Maimu Berg and of writer/psychiatrist Vaino Vahing.