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The Justices
The members of the Constitutional Court are appointed by the Federal President from proposals given either by the Federal Government, the National Council or the Federal Council. Even though the appointment may also be a political decision, as is the case in all Constitutional Courts worldwide, the justices act independently after assuming office, and not along political lines. All 14 members of the Constitutional Court (as well as the six substitute members) have to be qualified for the position through their study of law, as well as their extensive, relevant professional experience. They come from different professions (judges, university professors, civil servants, lawyers), from different federal states and different sociopolitical fields. This secures the pluralistic composition of the Court. Active civil servants - such as department heads - must resign along with giving up the associated income. Others, such as judges, lawyers or university professors, continue their profession. The justices remain in office until they are 70 years old. They cannot be removed from office, except by decision of the Constitutional Court itself.
The members of the Constitutional Court are:
President (Chief Justice) of the Constitutional Court
Gerhart Holzinger
University Professor Former head of the Department of Constitutional Law of the Office of the Federal Chancellor
Born 1947 in Gmunden
Awarded JD, University of Salzburg
Member since 1995
Vice President of the Constitutional Court
Brigitte Bierlein
Former Attorney General in the Attorney General's office
Born 1949 in Vienna
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Vice President since January 1, 2003
Justice Rudolf Müller
Honorary Professor
Judge of the Administrative Court
Born 1947 in Vienna
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Member since 1998
Justice Eleonore Berchtold-Ostermann
Attorney at Law
Born 1947 in Vienna
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Masters in Economics, University of Economics and Business Administration, Vienna
Member since 1997
Justice Claudia Kahr
Former head of the Department of the Ministry of Transport
Born 1955 in Graz
Awarded JD, University of Graz
Member since 1999
Justice Johannes Schnizer
Former Official of Parliament
Born 1951 in Graz
Awarded JD, University of Salzburg
Member since 2010
Justice Helmut Hörtenhuber
Former Head of the Department of Constitutional Law in Upper Austria
Born 1959 in Linz
Awarded JD, University of Linz
Member since 2008
Justice Markus Achatz
University Professor
Born 1960 in Graz
Awarded JD, University of Graz
Member since 2013
Justice Christoph Herbst
Attorney at Law
Born 1960 in Vienna
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Member since 2011
Justice Georg Lienbacher
University Professor
Born 1961 in Hallein
Awarded JD, University of Salzburg
Member since 2011
Justice Michael Holoubek
University Professor
Born 1962 in Vienna
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Member since 2011
Justice Sieglinde Gahleitner
Attorney at Law
Born 1965 in St. Veit/Upper Austria
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Member since 2010
Justice Ingrid Siess-Scherz
Former Head of the Legal, Legislative und Research Services at the Austrian Parliament
Born 1965 in Vienna
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Member since 2012
Justice Christoph Grabenwarter
University Professor
Born 1966 in Bruck/Mur, Styria
Awarded JD, Doctorate of Economics, University of Vienna Member since 2005
The Court also has six substitute members, who step in if one of the 14 justices is, for example, ill or considered to have a conflict of interest. The substitute members are:
Irmgard Griss
Former President of the Supreme Court
Born 1946 in Bösenbach
Awarded JD, University of Graz
Substitute Member since 2008
Lilian Hofmeister
former Justice of the Vienna Commercial Court
Born 1950 in Vienna
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Substitute Member since 1998
Gabriele Kucsko-Stadlmayer
University Professor
Born 1955 in Vienna
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Substitute Member since 1995
Robert Schick
Judge of the Administrative Court
Born 1959 in Vienna
Awarded JD, University of Vienna
Substitute Member since 1999
Nikolaus Bachler
Judge of the Administrative Court
Born 1967 in Graz
Awarded JD, University of Graz
Substitute Member since 2009
Barbara Leitl-Staudinger
University Professor
Born 1974 in Linz
Awarded JD, University of Linz
Substitute Member since 2011