1982, graduate, Faculty of Law, and 1986, graduate, Faculty of Philosophy and Public Science, University of Hamburg. 1989-91, participated in the restoration of Latvia. Former Member of the Council of the Latvian People’s Front and the Congress of Citizens. Author of the concept of the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of Latvia of 4 May 1990. First Minister of Justice after full restoration of the Constitution, the first Ambassador of Latvia to Germany after restoration of the country, the first Latvian judge at the European Court of Human Rights (1995-2004), and the first Latvian judge at the European Court of Justice. Co-authored many significant draft laws (including the Law on the Constitutional Court of Latvia, Administrative Procedure Law, Law on the Structure of the Cabinet of Ministers, etc.). Author: Preamble or Introduction to the Constitution adopted in 2014; scientific publications on state law, administrative law, human rights, and democracy. Publishes regularly on development challenges in Latvia. Formerly: Ambassador of Latvia to Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland; Deputy Prime Minister; Minister of Justice; Member of the Parliament; Chair, Commission of the Constitutional Law of the President of Latvia. Since 2004, Judge, European Court of Justice. Recipient of numerous honours and awards.