Prominent jurists insist that lawyer Markku Fredman should be appointed to Supreme Court

Markku Fredman

Ari Kantor

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A small group of prominent lawyers are insisting that lawyer Markku Fredman should be appointed to the Supreme Court (KKO), while wondering why KKO last week ended up proposing lawyer Ari Kantor for the post.
     
The lawyers are expressing disapproval of KKO’s proposal, as the two candidates represent completely opposite interests.
      Markku Fredman is specialised in human rights issues, while Ari Kantor has mainly gained special knowledge in criminal cases involving economic crimes, where he has defended a number of high-profile business figures.
      ”It is a question of appreciation which one of the two lawyers is appointed. As KKO already has some business lawyers, I would now choose the human rights lawyer”, says Erkki Aurejärvi, Professor Emeritus of Civil Law.
      Jyrki Virolainen, Professor of procedural law, thinks along the same lines.
      ”I feel that it would be high time to appoint a lawyer who is specialised in criminal cases and human right issues, as after all, criminal cases outnumber civil actions at KKO. Moreover, the number of cases involving human rights issues has increased appreciably”, says Virolainen.
     
Why did KKO not take into account Fredman’s merits in several legislative projects or for example his role as an expert in the Legal Affairs Committee in Parliament, Virolainen asks.
      Lawyer Heikki Salo says that Kantor has no merits for the position.
      ”He is a Master of Laws but he has not published anything. He cannot bring to KKO any expertise that KKO does not already have”, Salo argues.
      ”At KKO, appointments are never based on transparency candour and qualifications”, Salo claims, suggesting a decision made in the backrooms.
     
According to Salo, Minister of Justice Tuija Brax and President Tarja Halonen would now have an excellent opportunity to override KKO’s nomination and appoint a candidate who is qualified and wants to stress social and human values.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Lawyers dealing with white collar crime criticised for lack of basic skills (11.1.2008)
  Court decision opens way to inheritance for the “fatherless” (10.12.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat