Justice Minister (Denmark)

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

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]

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	Justice minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
1		Bardenfleth, Carl EmilCarl Emil Bardenfleth (1807–1857)	22 March 1848	13 July 1851	3 years, 113 days	Nonpartisan	Moltke I Moltke II
2		Scheel, Anton WilhelmAnton Wilhelm Scheel [da] (1799–1879)	13 July 1851	15 January 1855	3 years, 186 days	Nonpartisan	Moltke III Moltke IV Bluhme I Ørsted Bang
3		Simony, Carl FrederikCarl Frederik Simony [da] (1806–1872)	15 January 1855	2 December 1859	4 years, 321 days	National Liberal	Bang Andræ Hall I
4		Rotwitt, Carl EdvardCarl Edvard Rotwitt (1812–1860) [a]	2 December 1859	8 February 1860 †	68 days	Bondevennerne	Rotwitt
5		Casse, Andreas LorenzAndreas Lorenz Casse [da] (1803–1886)	24 February 1860	11 July 1864	4 years, 138 days	National Liberal	Hall II

Justice ministers under Christian IX (1863–1906)

No.	Portrait	Justice minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
6		Heltzen, Eugenius Sophus ErnstEugenius Sophus Ernst Heltzen [da] (1818–1898)	11 July 1864	13 March 1865	245 days	Højre	Hall II
7		Bræstrup, CosmusCosmus Bræstrup [da] (1789–1870)	7 April 1865	6 November 1865	213 days	Højre	Bluhme II
8		Leuning, Carl Peter GramCarl Peter Gram Leuning [da] (1820–1867) [b]	6 November 1865	21 July 1867 †	1 year, 257 days	National Liberal	Frijs
9		Rosenørn-Teilmann, Christian Peter TheodorChristian Peter Theodor Rosenørn-Teilmann [da] (1817–1879)	4 September 1867	17 August 1868	348 days	Nonpartisan	Frijs
10		von Nutzhorn, Carl Ludvig Vilhelm RømerCarl Ludvig Vilhelm Rømer von Nutzhorn [da] (1828–1899)	17 August 1868	28 May 1870	1 year, 284 days	Nonpartisan	Frijs
11		Krieger, Andreas FrederikAndreas Frederik Krieger (1817–1893)	28 May 1870	1 July 1872	1 year, 309 days	National Liberal	Holstein-Holsteinborg
12		Klein, Christian SophusChristian Sophus Klein (1824–1900)	1 July 1872	11 June 1875	3 years, 71 days	National Liberal	Holstein-Holsteinborg Fonnesbech
13		Nellemann, JohannesJohannes Nellemann (1831–1906)	11 June 1875	13 June 1896	21 years, 2 days	Højre	Estrup Reedtz-Thott
14		Rump, Nicolai ReimerNicolai Reimer Rump (1834–1900)	13 June 1896	28 August 1899	3 years, 76 days	Højre	Reedtz-Thott Hørring
15		Hørring, Hugo EgmontHugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	28 August 1899	27 April 1900	242 days	Højre	Hørring
16		Goos, August Hermann Ferdinand CarlAugust Hermann Ferdinand Carl Goos (1835–1917)	27 April 1900	24 July 1901	1 year, 88 days	Højre	Sehested
17		Alberti, Peter AdlerPeter Adler Alberti (1851–1932)	24 July 1901	24 July 1908	7 years, 0 days	Venstre Reform	Deuntzer Christensen

Justice ministers under Frederik VIII (1906–1912)

No.	Portrait	Justice minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
18		Høgsbro, SvendSvend Høgsbro [da] (1855–1910)	24 July 1908	28 October 1909	1 year, 96 days	Venstre Reform	Christensen Neergaard I Holstein-Ledreborg
19		Zahle, CarlCarl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	28 October 1909	5 July 1910	273 days	Social Liberals	Zahle I
20		Bülow, FritsFrits Bülow (1872–1955)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 351 days	Venstre	Berntsen

Justice ministers under Christian X (1912–1947)

No.	Portrait	Justice minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
(19)		Zahle, CarlCarl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 June 1913	30 March 1920	6 years, 283 days	Social Liberals	Zahle II
21		Liebe, OttoCarl Julius Otto Liebe (1866–1946)	30 March 1920	2 April 1920	3 days	Nonpartisan	Liebe Caretaker Government
22		Sindballe, KristianKristian Sindballe [da] (1884–1953)	2 April 1920	5 April 1920	3 days	Nonpartisan	Liebe Caretaker Government
23		Schrøder, FrederikFrederik Carl Gram Schrøder (1866–1936)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	30 days	Nonpartisan	Friis Caretaker Government
24		Rytter, SvenningSvenning Rytter [da] (1875–1957)	5 May 1920	23 April 1924	3 years, 354 days	Venstre	Neergaard II Cabinet–III
25		Steincke, Karl KristianKarl Kristian Steincke (1880–1962)	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	2 years, 235 days	Social Democrats	Stauning I Cabinet
(24)		Rytter, SvenningSvenning Rytter [da] (1875–1957)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	2 years, 137 days	Venstre	Madsen-Mygdal Cabinet
(19)		Zahle, CarlCarl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	30 April 1929	4 November 1935	6 years, 188 days	Social Liberals	Stauning II Cabinet
(25)		Steincke, Karl KristianKarl Kristian Steincke (1880–1962)	4 November 1935	15 September 1939	3 years, 315 days	Social Democrats	Stauning II Cabinet–III
26		Larsen, Svend UnmackSvend Unmack Larsen (1893–1965)	15 September 1939	8 July 1940	297 days	Social Democrats	Stauning IV Cabinet–V
27		Petersen, HaraldHarald Petersen [da] (1895–1977)	8 July 1940	9 July 1941	1 year, 1 day	Nonpartisan	Stauning VI Cabinet
28		Jacobsen, EigilEigil 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.[c]
29		Busch-Jensen, NielsNiels Busch-Jensen [da] (1886–1987)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	186 days	Social Democrats	Buhl II
30		Elmquist, AageAage 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	Justice minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
(29)		Høgsbro, SvendNiels Busch-Jensen [da] (1886–1987)	13 November 1947	25 February 1950	2 years, 104 days	Social Democrats	Hedtoft I
31		Buhl, VilhelmVilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	25 February 1950	4 March 1950	7 days	Social Democrats	Hedtoft I
(25)		Steincke, Karl KristianKarl Kristian Steincke (1880–1962)	4 March 1950	30 October 1950	240 days	Social Democrats	Hedtoft I
32		Pedersen, HelgaHelga Pedersen (1911–1980)	30 October 1950	1 October 1953	2 years, 336 days	Venstre	Eriksen
33		Hækkerup, Hans ErlingHans Erling Hækkerup [da] (1907–1974)	1 October 1953	26 September 1964	10 years, 361 days	Social Democrats	Hedtoft II Hansen I & II Kampmann I & II Krag I
34		Nielsen, Knud AxelKnud Axel Nielsen [da] (1904–1994)	26 September 1964	2 February 1968	3 years, 129 days	Social Democrats	Krag II
35		Thestrup, KnudKnud Thestrup [da] (1900–1980)	2 February 1968	11 October 1971	3 years, 251 days	Conservatives	Baunsgaard
(34)		Nielsen, Knud AxelKnud Axel Nielsen [da] (1904–1994)	11 October 1971	27 September 1973	1 year, 351 days	Social Democrats	Krag III Jørgensen I

Justice ministers under Margrethe II (1972–2024)

No.	Portrait	Justice minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
36		Hjortnæs, KarlKarl Hjortnæs [da] (born 1934)	27 September 1973	19 December 1973	83 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen I Cabinet
37		Lind, NathalieNathalie Lind (1918–1999)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	1 year, 56 days	Venstre	Hartling Cabinet
38		Møller, OrlaOrla Møller (1916–1979)	13 February 1975	1 October 1977	2 years, 230 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen II Cabinet
39		Jensen, Erling JohannesErling Johannes Jensen [da] (1919–2000)	1 October 1977	30 August 1978	333 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen II Cabinet
(37)		Lind, NathalieNathalie Lind (1918–1999)	30 August 1978	26 October 1979	1 year, 57 days	Venstre	Jørgensen III Cabinet
40		Rasmussen, HenningHenning Rasmussen [da] (1926–1997)	26 October 1979	20 January 1981	1 year, 86 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen IV Cabinet
41		Espersen, OleOle Espersen (1934–2020)	20 January 1981	10 September 1982	1 year, 233 days	Social Democrats	Jørgensen IV Cabinet–V
42		Ninn-Hansen, ErikErik Ninn-Hansen (1922–2014)	10 September 1982	10 January 1989	6 years, 122 days	Conservatives	Schlüter I Cabinet–II–III
43		Clausen, Hans PeterHans Peter Clausen [da] (1928–1998)	10 January 1989	3 October 1989	266 days	Conservatives	Schlüter III Cabinet
44		Schlüter, PoulPoul Schlüter (1929–2021)	3 October 1989	5 October 1989	2 days	Conservatives	Schlüter III Cabinet
45		Engell, HansHans Engell (born 1948)	5 October 1989	25 January 1993	3 years, 112 days	Conservatives	Schlüter III Cabinet–IV
46		Gjellerup, PiaPia Gjellerup (born 1959)	25 January 1993	29 March 1993	63 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet
47		Olsen, ErlingErling Olsen (1927–2011)	29 March 1993	27 September 1994	1 year, 182 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet
48		Westh, BjørnBjørn Westh (born 1944)	27 September 1994	30 December 1996	2 years, 94 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen II Cabinet
49		Jensen, FrankFrank Jensen (born 1961)	30 December 1996	27 November 2001	4 years, 332 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen III Cabinet–IV
50		Espersen, LeneLene Espersen (born 1965)	27 November 2001	10 September 2008	6 years, 288 days	Conservatives	Anders Fogh Rasmussen I Cabinet–II–III
51		Mikkelsen, BrianBrian Mikkelsen (born 1966)	10 September 2008	23 February 2010	1 year, 166 days	Conservatives	A.F. Rasmussen III L.L. Rasmussen I
52		Barfoed, LarsLars Barfoed (born 1957)	23 February 2010	3 October 2011	1 year, 222 days	Conservatives	L.L. Rasmussen I
53		Bødskov, MortenMorten Bødskov (born 1970)	3 October 2011	12 December 2013	2 years, 70 days	Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt I
54		Hækkerup, KarenKaren Hækkerup (born 1974)	12 December 2013	10 October 2014	302 days	Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet–II
55		Frederiksen, MetteMette Frederiksen (born 1977)	10 October 2014	28 June 2015	251 days	Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt II
56		Pind, SørenSøren Pind (born 1969)	28 June 2015	28 November 2016	1 year, 153 days	Venstre	L.L. Rasmussen II
57		Poulsen, Søren PapeSøren Pape Poulsen (1971–2024)	28 November 2016	27 June 2019	2 years, 211 days	Conservatives	L.L. Rasmussen III
58		Hækkerup, NickNick Hækkerup (born 1968)	27 June 2019	2 May 2022	2 years, 309 days	Social Democrats	Frederiksen I
59		Tesfaye, MattiasMattias Tesfaye (born 1981)	2 May 2022	15 December 2022	227 days	Social Democrats	Frederiksen I
60		Peter Hummelgaard Thomsen (born 1983)	15 December 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 241 days	Social Democrats	Frederiksen II

Justice ministers under Frederik X (2024–present)

No.	Portrait	Justice minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
60		Peter Hummelgaard Thomsen (born 1983)	15 December 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 241 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.^[6]

See also

• Cabinet of Denmark

Notes

1. Carl Edvard Rottwitt died in office 8 February 1860 while also serving the position of Council President (i.e. Prime Minister). A successor was not nominated until 24 February.
2. Carl Peter Gram Leuning died in office 21 July 1867. A successor was not nominated until 4 September.
3. 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.