The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe is sad to announce the death of Mr Hjörtur Torfason, member in respect of Iceland from 1998 to 2010 and substitute member since 2010.

During this period, he was also a member of the Council for Democratic Elections from 2003 to 2011 and its first Vice-President until 2006.

Mr Hjörtur Torfason was one of the longest-serving members of the Venice Commission as well as of the Council for Democratic Elections of the Council of Europe.

Mr Hjörtur Torfason was also an attorney-at-law in Reykjavík, with an independent practice as a legal advisor1991 as well as a justice of the Supreme Court of Iceland from 1990 to 2001 and an ad hoc substitute judge following his retirement; he was also a document translator in English.

He held many other positions, including as a member of the National Election Board for Reykjavík from 1967 to 1991; a member of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Comparative Law from 1969 to 1970; and a lecturer in company law at the University of Iceland from 1974 to 1976.