# List of ministers of justice (Denmark)

This is a list of justice ministers of Denmark, 1848–present.

## List of justice ministers (1848–present)
### Justice ministers under Frederick VII (1848–1863)

| No. | 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) | 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. | 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) | 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. | 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. | 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. ||||||||
| 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. | 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. | 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 | 1 year, 342 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 | 1 year, 342 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.