Minister for Justice (Sweden)

Minister for Justice of Sweden
Minister for Justice of Sweden
Statsråd och chef för Justitiedepartementet
	Lesser coat of arms of Sweden
	Incumbent; Gunnar Strömmer ; since 18 October 2022
	Ministry of Justice
Member of	Government of Sweden ; National Security Council
Appointer	The Prime Minister
Term length	No fixed term,; Serves at the discretion of the Prime Minister
Inaugural holder	Louis Gerhard De Geer
Formation	20 March 1876
Website	www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/584

Last updated October 30, 2024

The Minister for Justice, (Swedish : justitieminister), formally cabinet minister and head of the Ministry of Justice , is a member and minister of the Government of Sweden and is appointed by the Prime Minister. The minister is responsible for policies related to combating terrorism, democracy and human rights, family law, the judicial system and the Constitution of Sweden.

History

The office was instituted in 1809 as a result of the constitutional Instrument of Government promulgated in the same year. Until 1876 the office was called Prime Minister for Justice (Swedish : justitiestatsminister), similar to the office of Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs (Swedish : utrikesstatsminister). Until 1840, the Prime Minister for Justice also served as a member of the Supreme Court. Following the ministry reform in 1840, the Prime Minister for Justice became head of the newly instituted Ministry of Justice. In 1876 the office proper of Prime Minister of Sweden was created and at the same time the Minister for Justice was created. Before 1876 the Prime Minister for Justice had in practice been granted exclusively to members of the most prominent noble families.

List of officeholders

Prime Ministers for Justice (1809–1876)


Name	Took office	Left office	Political party
Carl Axel Wachtmeister	9 June 1809	5 April 1810	Independent
Fredrik Gyllenborg	5 April 1810	18 August 1829	Independent
Mathias Rosenblad	18 August 1829	16 May 1840	Independent
Arvid Mauritz Posse	16 May 1840	5 September 1840	Independent
Carl Petter Törnebladh (acting)	5 September 1840	14 January 1841	Independent
Carl Petter Törnebladh	14 January 1841	5 January 1843	Independent
Lars Herman Gyllenhaal	5 January 1843	28 December 1844	Independent
Johan Nordenfalk	28 December 1844	9 March 1846	Independent
Arvid Mauritz Posse	23 March 1846	10 April 1848	Independent
Gustaf Sparre	10 April 1848	25 September 1856	Independent
Claës Günther	25 September 1856	7 April 1858	Independent
Louis De Geer	7 April 1858	3 June 1870	Independent
Axel Adlercreutz	3 June 1870	8 April 1874	Independent
Edvard Carleson	4 May 1874	11 May 1875	Independent
Louis De Geer	11 May 1875	20 March 1876	Independent

Ministers for Justice (1876–present)

Color key

  Independent
Historical parties:   Lantmanna   Moderate   National Party   Liberals   Liberals   Liberals   Liberals
Present parties:   Social Democrats   Moderate   Centre   Left   Liberals   Christian Democrats   Green   Sweden Democrats

Status

Denotes acting Minister for Justice

Portrait	Minister for Justice (Born-Died)	Term			Political Party	Coalition	Cabinet
Portrait	Minister for Justice (Born-Died)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Political Party	Coalition	Cabinet
	De Geer d.ä., Louis Louis De Geer d.ä. (1818–1896)	20 March 1876 (1876-03-20)	6 June 1879 (1879-06-06)	3 years, 78 days	Independent	–	De Geer d.ä. Cabinet
	Almqvist, Ludvig Teodor Ludvig Teodor Almqvist (1818–1884)	6 June 1879 (1879-06-06)	19 April 1880 (1880-04-19)	318 days	Independent	–	De Geer d.ä. Cabinet
	Steyern von, Nils Nils von Steyern (1839–1899)	19 April 1880 (1880-04-19)	6 February 1888 (1888-02-06)	7 years, 293 days	Independent	–	Posse Cabinet Thyselius Cabinet Themptander Cabinet
	Bergström, Axel Axel Bergström (1823–1893)	6 February 1888 (1888-02-06)	28 September 1888 (1888-09-28)	235 days	Independent	–	Gillis Bildt Cabinet
	Örbom, Axel Axel Örbom (1836–1889)	28 September 1888 (1888-09-28)	30 May 1889 (1889-05-30)	244 days	Independent	–	Gillis Bildt Cabinet
	Östergren, August August Östergren (1832–1914)	12 June 1889 (1889-06-12)	5 February 1896 (1896-02-05)	6 years, 238 days	Independent	–	Åkerhielm Cabinet Boström I Cabinet
	Annerstedt, Ludvig Ludvig Annerstedt (1836–1904)	5 February 1896 (1896-02-05)	5 December 1901 (1901-12-05)	5 years, 303 days	Independent	–	Von Otter Cabinet
	Hammarskjöld, Hjalmar Hjalmar Hammarskjöld (1862–1953)	5 December 1901 (1901-12-05)	5 July 1902 (1902-07-05)	212 days	Independent	–	Von Otter Cabinet
	Berger, Ossian Ossian Berger (1849–1914)	5 July 1902 (1902-07-05)	2 August 1905 (1905-08-02)	3 years, 28 days	Lantmanna	–	Boström II Cabinet Ramstedt Cabinet
	Berg, Gustaf Gustaf Berg (1844–1908)	2 August 1905 (1905-08-02)	7 November 1905 (1905-11-07)	97 days	Moderate	M–L	Lundeberg Cabinet
	Staaff, Karl Karl Staaff (1860–1915)	7 November 1905 (1905-11-07)	29 May 1906 (1906-05-29)	203 days	Liberals	L	Staaff I Cabinet
	Petersson, Gustaf Albert Gustaf Albert Petersson (1851–1938)	29 May 1906 (1906-05-29)	7 October 1911 (1911-10-07)	5 years, 131 days	Electoral League	Electoral League	Lindman I Cabinet
	Sandström, Gustaf Gustaf Sandström (1865–1930)	7 October 1911 (1911-10-07)	17 February 1914 (1914-02-17)	2 years, 133 days	Liberals	L	Staaff II Cabinet
	Hasselrot, Berndt Berndt Hasselrot (1862–1930)	17 February 1914 (1914-02-17)	30 March 1917 (1917-03-30)	3 years, 41 days	Independent	–	Hammarskjöld Cabinet
	Stenberg, Steno Steno Stenberg (1870–1940)	30 March 1917 (1917-03-30)	19 October 1917 (1917-10-19)	203 days	Electoral League	National Party	Swartz Cabinet
	Löfgren, Eliel Eliel Löfgren (1872–1940)	19 October 1917 (1917-10-19)	10 March 1920 (1920-03-10)	2 years, 143 days	Liberals	L–S/SAP	Edén Cabinet
	Undén, Östen Östen Undén (1886–1974)	10 March 1920 (1920-03-10)	30 June 1920 (1920-06-30)	112 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Branting I Cabinet
	Åkerman, Assar Assar Åkerman (1860–1936)	30 June 1920 (1920-06-30)	27 October 1920 (1920-10-27)	119 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Branting I Cabinet
	Ekeberg, Birger Birger Ekeberg (1880–1968)	27 October 1920 (1920-10-27)	13 October 1921 (1921-10-13)	351 days	Independent	–	De Geer Cabinet Von Sydow Cabinet
	Åkerman, Assar Assar Åkerman (1860–1936)	13 October 1921 (1921-10-13)	19 April 1923 (1923-04-19)	1 year, 188 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Branting II Cabinet
	Ekeberg, Birger Birger Ekeberg (1880–1968)	19 April 1923 (1923-04-19)	18 October 1924 (1924-10-18)	1 year, 182 days	Independent	National Party	Trygger Cabinet
	Nothin, Torsten Torsten Nothin (1884–1972)	18 October 1924 (1924-10-18)	7 June 1926 (1926-06-07)	1 year, 232 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Branting III Cabinet Sandler Cabinet
	Thyrén, Johan Johan Thyrén (1861–1933)	7 June 1926 (1926-06-07)	2 October 1928 (1928-10-02)	2 years, 117 days	Liberals	L–L	Ekman I Cabinet
	Bissmark, Georg Georg Bissmark (1871–1941)	2 October 1928 (1928-10-02)	7 June 1930 (1930-06-07)	1 year, 248 days	National Party	Electoral League	Lindman II Cabinet
	Gärde, Natanael Natanael Gärde (1880–1968)	7 June 1930 (1930-06-07)	24 September 1932 (1932-09-24)	2 years, 109 days	Independent	L	Ekman II Cabinet Hamrin Cabinet
	Schlyter, Karl Karl Schlyter (1879–1959)	24 September 1932 (1932-09-24)	19 June 1936 (1936-06-19)	3 years, 269 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Hansson I Cabinet
	Bergquist, Thorwald Thorwald Bergquist (1899–1972)	19 June 1936 (1936-06-19)	28 September 1936 (1936-09-28)	101 days	Independent	C	Pehrsson-Bramstorp Cabinet
	Westman, Karl Gustaf Karl Gustaf Westman (1876–1944)	28 September 1936 (1936-09-28)	30 August 1943 (1943-08-30)	6 years, 336 days	Centre	S/SAP–C S/SAP–C–M–L	Hansson II Cabinet Hansson III Cabinet
	Bergquist, Thorwald Thorwald Bergquist (1899–1972)	30 August 1943 (1943-08-30)	31 July 1945 (1945-07-31)	1 year, 335 days	Liberals	S/SAP–C–M–L	Hansson III Cabinet
	Zetterberg, Herman Herman Zetterberg (1904–1963)	31 July 1945 (1945-07-31)	20 September 1957 (1957-09-20)	12 years, 51 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP–C–M–L S/SAP S/SAP–C	Hansson IV Cabinet Erlander I Cabinet Erlander II Cabinet
	Lindell, Ingvar Ingvar Lindell (1904–1993)	20 September 1957 (1957-09-20)	1 December 1959 (1959-12-01)	2 years, 72 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP–C S/SAP	Erlander II Cabinet Erlander III Cabinet
	Kling, Herman Herman Kling (1913–1985)	1 December 1959 (1959-12-01)	14 October 1969 (1969-10-14)	9 years, 317 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Erlander III Cabinet
	Geijer, Lennart Lennart Geijer (1909–1999)	14 October 1969 (1969-10-14)	8 October 1976 (1976-10-08)	6 years, 360 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Palme I Cabinet
	Romanus, Sven Sven Romanus (1906–2005)	8 October 1976 (1976-10-08)	12 October 1979 (1979-10-12)	3 years, 4 days	Independent	C–M–L L	Fälldin I Cabinet Ullsten Cabinet
	Winberg, Håkan Håkan Winberg (1931–2022)	12 October 1979 (1979-10-12)	5 May 1981 (1981-05-05)	1 year, 205 days	Moderate	C–M–L	Fälldin II Cabinet
	Petri, Carl Axel Carl Axel Petri (1929–2017)	5 May 1981 (1981-05-05)	8 October 1982 (1982-10-08)	1 year, 156 days	Independent	C–L	Fälldin III Cabinet
	Rainer, Ove Ove Rainer (1925–1987)	8 October 1982 (1982-10-08)	10 November 1983 (1983-11-10)	1 year, 33 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Palme II Cabinet
	Leijon, Anna-Greta Anna-Greta Leijon (1939–2024) Acting	11 November 1983 (1983-11-11)	15 November 1983 (1983-11-15)	5 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Palme II Cabinet
	Wickbom, Sten Sten Wickbom (1931–2015)	15 November 1983 (1983-11-15)	19 October 1987 (1987-10-19)	3 years, 338 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Palme II Cabinet Carlsson I Cabinet
	Leijon, Anna-Greta Anna-Greta Leijon (1939–2024)	19 October 1987 (1987-10-19)	7 July 1988 (1988-07-07)	232 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Carlsson I Cabinet
	Peterson, Thage G. Thage G. Peterson (born 1933) Acting	7 July 1988 (1988-07-07)	30 September 1988 (1988-09-30)	115 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Carlsson I Cabinet
	Carlsson, Ingvar Ingvar Carlsson (born 1934) Acting	30 September 1988 (1988-09-30)	4 October 1988 (1988-10-04)	4 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Carlsson I Cabinet
	Freivalds, Laila Laila Freivalds (born 1942)	4 October 1988 (1988-10-04)	4 October 1991 (1991-10-04)	3 years, 0 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Carlsson I Cabinet Carlsson II Cabinet
	Hellsvik, Gun Gun Hellsvik (1942–2016)	4 October 1991 (1991-10-04)	7 October 1994 (1994-10-07)	3 years, 3 days	Moderate	M–C–L–KD	Bildt Cabinet
	Freivalds, Laila Laila Freivalds (born 1942)	7 October 1994 (1994-10-07)	21 September 2000 (2000-09-21)	5 years, 350 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Carlsson III Cabinet Persson Cabinet
	Hjelm-Wallén, Lena Lena Hjelm-Wallén (born 1943) Acting	21 September 2000 (2000-09-21)	16 October 2000 (2000-10-16)	25 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Persson Cabinet
	Bodström, Thomas Thomas Bodström (born 1962)	16 October 2000 (2000-10-16)	6 October 2006 (2006-10-06)	5 years, 355 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP	Persson Cabinet
	Ask, Beatrice Beatrice Ask (born 1956)	6 October 2006 (2006-10-06)	3 October 2014 (2014-10-03)	7 years, 362 days	Moderate	M–C–L–KD	Reinfeldt Cabinet
	Johansson, Morgan Morgan Johansson (born 1970)	3 October 2014 (2014-10-03)	18 October 2022 (2022-10-18)	8 years, 15 days	Social Democrats	S/SAP–MP	Löfven I Cabinet Löfven II Cabinet Löfven III Cabinet Andersson Cabinet
	Strömmer, Gunnar Gunnar Strömmer (born 1972)	18 October 2022 (2022-10-18)		2 years, 13 days	Moderate	M–KD–L	Kristersson Cabinet

According to the data above, Anna-Greta Leijon was the first female appointed as the Minister for Justice (1983). However, Laila Freivalds was the first female with a legal credential to become the Minister for Justice (1988–1991; 1994–2000)--as Leijon had a labor background.

External links

Ministry of Justice, official website (in English)

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