Justice Minister (Denmark)

Minister of Justice
Justitsminister
State coat of arms of the Kingdom of Denmark
Incumbent Peter Hummelgaard since 15 December 2022
Ministry of Justice
Type	Minister
Member of	Cabinet State Council
Reports to	the Prime minister
Seat	Slotsholmen
Appointer	The Monarch (on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Formation	22 March 1848;177 years ago (1848-03-22)
First holder	Carl Emil Bardenfleth
Succession	depending on the order in the State Council
Deputy	Permanent Secretary
Salary	1.400.192,97 DKK (€187,839), in 2024 [1]

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

As of 2024, the Minister of Justice is Peter Hummelgaard. ^[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. ^[2]

List of justice ministers (1848–present)

Justice ministers under Frederick VII (1848–1863)

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	[6] [7]
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	[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
3		Carl Frederik Simony  [ da ] (1806–1872)	15 January 1855	2 December 1859	4 years, 321 days		National Liberal	Bang Andræ Hall I	[12] [13] [14]
4		Carl Edvard Rotwitt (1812–1860)	2 December 1859	8 February 1860  #	68 days		Society of the Friends of Peasants	Rotwitt	[15]
–		Johan Christian von Jessen  [ da ] (1817–1884) acting	8 February 1860	24 February 1860	16 days		National Liberal	Rotwitt	[15]
5		Andreas Lorenz Casse  [ da ] (1803–1886)	24 February 1860	11 July 1864	4 years, 138 days		National Liberal	Hall II	[16]

Justice ministers under Christian IX (1863–1906)

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	[16]
7		Cosmus Bræstrup  [ da ] (1789–1870)	7 April 1865	6 November 1865	213 days		Højre	Bluhme II	[17]
8		Carl Peter Gram Leuning  [ da ] (1820–1867)	6 November 1865	21 July 1867  #	1 year, 257 days		National Liberal	Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs	[18]
9		Theodor Rosenørn-Teilmann  [ da ] (1817–1879)	21 July 1867	17 August 1868	1 year, 27 days		Independent	Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs	[18]
10		Carl von Nutzhorn  [ da ] (1828–1899)	17 August 1868	28 May 1870	1 year, 284 days		Independent	Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs	[18]
11		Andreas Frederik Krieger (1817–1893)	28 May 1870	1 July 1872	1 year, 309 days		National Liberal	Holstein-Holsteinborg	[19]
12		Christian Sophus Klein (1824–1900)	1 July 1872	11 June 1875	3 years, 71 days		National Liberal	Holstein-Holsteinborg Fonnesbech	[19] [20]
13		Johannes Nellemann (1831–1906)	11 June 1875	13 June 1896	21 years, 2 days		Højre	Estrup Reedtz-Thott	[21] [22]
14		Nicolai Reimer Rump (1834–1900)	13 June 1896	28 August 1899	3 years, 76 days		Højre	Reedtz-Thott Hørring	[22] [23]
15		Hugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	28 August 1899	27 April 1900	242 days		Højre	Hørring	[23]
16		Carl Goos (1835–1917)	27 April 1900	24 July 1901	1 year, 88 days		Højre	Sehested	[24]
17		Peter Adler Alberti (1851–1932)	24 July 1901	24 July 1908	7 years, 0 days		Venstre Reform	Deuntzer Christensen I	[25] [26]

Justice ministers under Frederik VIII (1906–1912)

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	[27] [28] [29]
19		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	28 October 1909	5 July 1910	250 days		Social Liberal	Zahle I	[30]
20		Frits Bülow (1872–1955)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 351 days		Venstre	Berntsen	[31]

Justice ministers under Christian X (1912–1947)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Political party		Government	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
(19)		Zahle, Carl Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 June 1913	30 March 1920	6 years, 283 days		Social Liberals	Zahle II
21		Liebe, Otto Carl Julius Otto Liebe (1866–1946)	30 March 1920	2 April 1920	3 days		Nonpartisan	Liebe Caretaker Government
22		Sindballe, Kristian Kristian Sindballe  [ da ] (1884–1953)	2 April 1920	5 April 1920	3 days		Nonpartisan	Liebe Caretaker Government
23		Schrøder, Frederik Frederik Carl Gram Schrøder (1866–1936)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	30 days		Nonpartisan	Friis Caretaker Government
24		Rytter, Svenning Svenning Rytter  [ da ] (1875–1957)	5 May 1920	23 April 1924	3 years, 354 days		Venstre	Neergaard II Cabinet–III
25		Steincke, Karl Kristian Karl Kristian Steincke (1880–1962)	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	2 years, 235 days		Social Democrats	Stauning I Cabinet
(24)		Rytter, Svenning Svenning Rytter  [ da ] (1875–1957)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	2 years, 137 days		Venstre	Madsen-Mygdal Cabinet
(19)		Zahle, Carl Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	30 April 1929	4 November 1935	6 years, 188 days		Social Liberals	Stauning II Cabinet
(25)		Steincke, Karl Kristian Karl Kristian Steincke (1880–1962)	4 November 1935	15 September 1939	3 years, 315 days		Social Democrats	Stauning II Cabinet–III
26		Larsen, Svend Unmack Svend Unmack Larsen (1893–1965)	15 September 1939	8 July 1940	297 days		Social Democrats	Stauning IV Cabinet–V
27		Petersen, Harald Harald Petersen  [ da ] (1895–1977)	8 July 1940	9 July 1941	1 year, 1 day		Nonpartisan	Stauning VI Cabinet
28		Jacobsen, Eigil Eigil Thune Jacobsen  [ da ] (1880–1949)	9 July 1941	29 August 1943	2 years, 51 days		Nonpartisan	Stauning VI Cabinet Buhl I Scavenius
No Danish government. Office is assumed by the permanent secretary. [a]
29		Busch-Jensen, Niels Niels Busch-Jensen  [ da ] (1886–1987)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	186 days		Social Democrats	Buhl II
30		Elmquist, Aage Aage Ludvig Holberg Elmquist  [ da ] (1888–1962)	7 November 1945	13 November 1947	2 years, 6 days		Venstre	Kristensen

Justice ministers under Frederik IX (1947–1972)

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	[32]
–		Vilhelm Buhl (1881–1954) acting	25 February 1950	4 March 1950	7 days		Social Democrats	Hedtoft I	[32]
(25)		Karl Kristian Steincke (1880–1962)	4 March 1950	30 October 1950	240 days		Social Democrats	Hedtoft I–II	[32] [33]
31		Helga Pedersen (1911–1980)	30 October 1950	1 October 1953	2 years, 336 days		Venstre	Eriksen	[34]
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	[35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40]
33		Knud Axel Nielsen  [ da ] (1904–1994)	26 September 1964	2 February 1968	3 years, 129 days		Social Democrats	Krag II	[41]
34		Knud Thestrup  [ da ] (1900–1980)	2 February 1968	11 October 1971	3 years, 251 days		Conservative People's Party	Baunsgaard	[42]
(32)		Knud Axel Nielsen  [ da ] (1904–1994)	11 October 1971	27 September 1973	1 year, 351 days		Social Democrats	Krag III Jørgensen I	[43] [44]

Justice ministers under Margrethe II (1972–2024)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Political party		Government	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
36		Hjortnæs, Karl Karl Hjortnæs  [ da ] (born 1934)	27 September 1973	19 December 1973	83 days		Social Democrats	Jørgensen I Cabinet
37		Lind, Nathalie Nathalie Lind (1918–1999)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	1 year, 56 days		Venstre	Hartling Cabinet
38		Møller, Orla Orla Møller (1916–1979)	13 February 1975	1 October 1977	2 years, 230 days		Social Democrats	Jørgensen II Cabinet
39		Jensen, Erling Johannes Erling Johannes Jensen  [ da ] (1919–2000)	1 October 1977	30 August 1978	333 days		Social Democrats	Jørgensen II Cabinet
(37)		Lind, Nathalie Nathalie Lind (1918–1999)	30 August 1978	26 October 1979	1 year, 57 days		Venstre	Jørgensen III Cabinet
40		Rasmussen, Henning Henning Rasmussen  [ da ] (1926–1997)	26 October 1979	20 January 1981	1 year, 86 days		Social Democrats	Jørgensen IV Cabinet
41		Espersen, Ole Ole Espersen (1934–2020)	20 January 1981	10 September 1982	1 year, 233 days		Social Democrats	Jørgensen IV Cabinet–V
42		Ninn-Hansen, Erik Erik Ninn-Hansen (1922–2014)	10 September 1982	10 January 1989	6 years, 122 days		Conservatives	Schlüter I Cabinet–II–III
43		Clausen, Hans Peter Hans Peter Clausen  [ da ] (1928–1998)	10 January 1989	3 October 1989	266 days		Conservatives	Schlüter III Cabinet
44		Schlüter, Poul Poul Schlüter (1929–2021)	3 October 1989	5 October 1989	2 days		Conservatives	Schlüter III Cabinet
45		Engell, Hans Hans Engell (born 1948)	5 October 1989	25 January 1993	3 years, 112 days		Conservatives	Schlüter III Cabinet–IV
46		Gjellerup, Pia Pia Gjellerup (born 1959)	25 January 1993	29 March 1993	63 days		Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet
47		Olsen, Erling Erling Olsen (1927–2011)	29 March 1993	27 September 1994	1 year, 182 days		Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet
48		Westh, Bjørn Bjørn Westh (born 1944)	27 September 1994	30 December 1996	2 years, 94 days		Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen II Cabinet
49		Jensen, Frank Frank Jensen (born 1961)	30 December 1996	27 November 2001	4 years, 332 days		Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen III Cabinet–IV
50		Espersen, Lene Lene Espersen (born 1965)	27 November 2001	10 September 2008	6 years, 288 days		Conservatives	Anders Fogh Rasmussen I Cabinet–II–III
51		Mikkelsen, Brian Brian Mikkelsen (born 1966)	10 September 2008	23 February 2010	1 year, 166 days		Conservatives	A.F. Rasmussen III L.L. Rasmussen I
52		Barfoed, Lars Lars Barfoed (born 1957)	23 February 2010	3 October 2011	1 year, 222 days		Conservatives	L.L. Rasmussen I
53		Bødskov, Morten Morten Bødskov (born 1970)	3 October 2011	12 December 2013	2 years, 70 days		Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt I
54		Hækkerup, Karen Karen Hækkerup (born 1974)	12 December 2013	10 October 2014	302 days		Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet–II
55		Frederiksen, Mette Mette Frederiksen (born 1977)	10 October 2014	28 June 2015	251 days		Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt II
56		Pind, Søren Søren Pind (born 1969)	28 June 2015	28 November 2016	1 year, 153 days		Venstre	L.L. Rasmussen II
57		Poulsen, Søren Pape Søren Pape Poulsen (1971–2024)	28 November 2016	27 June 2019	2 years, 211 days		Conservatives	L.L. Rasmussen III
58		Hækkerup, Nick Nick Hækkerup (born 1968)	27 June 2019	2 May 2022	2 years, 309 days		Social Democrats	Frederiksen I
59		Tesfaye, Mattias Mattias Tesfaye (born 1981)	2 May 2022	15 December 2022	227 days		Social Democrats	Frederiksen I
60		Peter Hummelgaard (born 1983)	15 December 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 362 days		Social Democrats	Frederiksen II

Justice ministers under Frederik X (2024–present)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Political party		Government	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
60		Peter Hummelgaard (born 1983)	15 December 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 362 days		Social Democrats	Frederiksen II

• According to the data provided above, Helga Pedersen was the first female to serve as the Minister of Justice in Denmark. ^[45]

See also

• Cabinet of Denmark

Notes

1. 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

1. "Hvad tjener en minister?". Regeringen (in Danish). 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
2. Kobberup, Lærke (11 April 2024). "TikTok doesn't follow Danish law". ScandAsia. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
3. "Justitsministeriet". Justitsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 26 July 2024.
4. "Contact the Authorities in the Danish Justice System". Justitsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 26 July 2024.
5. "Denmark to ban Quran burnings - Justice Minister". MEMO – Middle East Monitor. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
6. "Regeringen Moltke I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
7. "Regeringen Moltke II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
8. "Regeringen Moltke III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
9. "Regeringen Moltke IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
10. "Regeringen Bluhme I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
11. "Regeringen Ørsted". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
12. "Regeringen Bang". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
13. "Regeringen Andræ". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
14. "Regeringen Hall I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
15. "Regeringen Rotwitt". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
16. "Regeringen Hall II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
17. "Regeringen Bluhme II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
18. "Regeringen Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
19. "Regeringen Holstein-Holsteinborg". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
20. "Regeringen Fonnesbech". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
21. "Regeringen Estrup". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
22. "Regeringen Reedtz-Thott". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
23. "Regeringen Hørring". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
24. "Regeringen Sehested". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
25. "Regeringen Deuntzer". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
26. "Regeringen Christensen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
27. "Regeringen Christensen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 3 November 2025.
28. "Regeringen Neergaard I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
29. "Regeringen Holstein-Ledreborg". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
30. "Regeringen Zahle I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
31. "Regeringen Berntsen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
32. "Regeringen Hedtoft I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
33. "Regeringen Hedtoft II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
34. "Regeringen Erik Eriksen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
35. "Regeringen Hedtoft III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
36. "Regeringen H.C. Hansen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
37. "Regeringen H.C. Hansen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
38. "Regeringen Viggo Kampmann I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
39. "Regeringen Viggo Kampmann II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
40. "Regeringen Jens Otto Krag I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
41. "Regeringen Jens Otto Krag II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
42. "Regeringen Hilmar Baunsgaard". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
43. "Regeringen Jens Otto Krag III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
44. "Regeringen Anker Jørgensen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
45. Laneth, Pia Fris (2009). Lillys Danmarkshistorie (in Danish). Gyldendal A/S. p. 273. ISBN   9788702067903.

External links

• The Justice Ministry of Denmark