Chancellor of Justice (Finland)

The Office of the Chancellor of Justice dates back to the 18th century, when Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden.

When Finland was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1809 as an autonomous Grand Duchy, the legal system largely remained the same.

The functions of the Chancellor of Justice, however, were assigned to the procurator, who assisted the Governor-General in supervising obedience to the law.

A year after Finland declared its independence in 1917, the title and office of Chancellor of Justice was re-established.

The first incumbent of this restored institution was Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, who had served as the speaker of the Parliament and who was later to become the third President of Finland.