The Supreme Court employs approximately 75 people. Forty-five of these are experts in legal issues and the rest are clerical workers. Under law, the Supreme Court shall have a President and at least fifteen members (referred to as Justices), appointed by the President of the Republic. As a rule, they are appointed on a permanent basis.
The President
The President of the Supreme Court is Mr Tatu Leppänen. President Leppänen is the 14th holder of this office during Finland’s independence, and was appointed in 2019. In addition to running the Supreme Court, President Leppänen is also involved in judicial cases.
Born in 1968. Master of Laws 1990, Licentiate of Laws 1992. Master of Laws with court training 1994 and Doctor of Laws 1998. Specialist Vocational Qualification in Leadership 2013.
Acting assistant and grant researcher in procedural law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Helsinki 1991–1997, assistant in procedural law 1997–2002, fixed-term assistant professor 1997–1998 and adjunct professor from 2002. Trainee District Judge at the Helsinki District Court 1993–1994, fixed-term Referendary of the Supreme Court 1995–1996. Between 1996 and 1999 fixed terms as a Referendary and Senior Secretary of the Ombudsman at the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
Fixed-term Senior Specialist at the Law Drafting Department of the Ministry of Justice 2000–2001, fixed-term Senior Ministerial Adviser in Legislative Affairs and Senior Ministerial Adviser in Legislative Affairs 2001–06 and 2008–09. Fixed-term District Judge 2007–2008 and District Judge of the District Court of Vantaa 2010–2014. Fixed-term Judge of the Court of Appeal of Helsinki 2010. Chief Judge of the District Court of Hyvinkää 2014–2016. Justice of the Supreme Court 1 September 2016–31 August 2019. President of the Supreme Court from 1 September 2019.
Positions as chairman, member or specialist in numerous working groups in the administrative sector of the Ministry of Justice. Published writings and held positions of trust. Work in research, teaching and law drafting has centered around procedural law, especially on the areas of civil procedure, presentation of evidence and debt recovery procedure.
Justices
The Justices of the Supreme Court have experience from different branches of the legal profession, most often in courts of law, but also in the drafting of legislation, academic positions and as legal practitioners. Justices do not specialise but rather consider all types of cases.
The Court currently consists of the President, Mr Leppänen and eighteen Justices.
Mr Jukka Sippo Mr Ari Kantor Ms Tuula Pynnä (on leave of absence) Mr Mika Huovila Mr Tuomo Antila Ms Kirsti Uusitalo Ms Lena Engstrand Mr Mika Ilveskero Mr Juha Mäkelä Mr Asko Välimaa (on leave of absence) Ms Eva Tammi-Salminen Mr Jussi Tapani Mr Timo Ojala Ms Alice Guimaraes-Purokoski Ms Tuija Turpeinen Mr Pekka Pulkkinen Mr Kaarlo Hakamies Mr Pasi Pölönen Ms Heli Melander
Military members
The standard five member assembly of Justices is supplemented with two military members when the Court considers military cases.
Chief Secretary
The Chief Secretary of the Supreme Court assists the President in running the office. The current Chief Secretary is Ms Kaisa Kuparinen.
Referendaries
Referendaries of the Supreme Court prepare cases for the Court and present them in hearings. The referendaries also have primary responsibility for communication with the parties to cases and for administrative work relating to the hearings.
The referendaries (numbering about 25) are appointed by the Plenary Session of the Court, and are experienced lawyers specialised in the various branches of law.
Clerical staff
The clerical staff of the Court consists of secretaries, communications assistants, registrars, attendants and information service assistants.
