Paul Joseph von Riegger

Paul Joseph Riegger (from 1764 Ritter von Riegger), (Freiburg im Breisgau, 29 June 1705 – Vienna, 2 December 1775) was an Austrian lawyer and teacher of state church law.

For his services, he was elevated to the hereditary nobility on 8 January 1764 by Maria Theresa as Ritter von Riegger.

As an enlightener, and Maria Theresa's close advisor, he paved the way for the Josephine state reforms.

In doing so, he created the legal basis for the abolition of torture and witch trials.

He was the father of the lawyer and historian Josef Anton von Riegger (1742–1795).