Former ICTY Judge Stefan Trechsel has passed away

It is with deep sadness that the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has learned of the passing at the end of December 2025 of Judge Stefan Trechsel of Switzerland, former Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Judge Trechsel was sworn in as an ad litem Judge of the ICTY on 7 April 2006 and served as a Judge of the Trial Chamber in the case of Prosecutor v. Jadranko Prlic et al. until the conclusion of the trial proceedings in May 2013.

Prior to joining the ICTY, Judge Trechsel had an extraordinary career in criminal law and human rights both internationally and domestically. Judge Trechsel was a Professor of Criminal Law and Procedure at the University of Zurich (1999-2004) and St. Gallen (1979-1999). In parallel, he served at the European Commission of Human Rights for over 20 years, eventually becoming its Vice-President and President. Judge Trechsel also served for 12 years on the Board of Trustees and Advisory Board of the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law and Criminology, and participated in a number of expert committees for the adoption of national and cantonal Swiss legislation in the areas of criminal law, criminal procedure and immigration law. Earlier in his career, Judge Trechsel held several positions in Bern as an investigating judge, ad hoc judge to military courts, district attorney, and defence counsel. He was a prolific author of books and approximately 100 articles in criminal law and human rights protection in German, English, French, Portuguese and Italian.

Judge Trechsel was deeply admired by colleagues and staff not only for his valuable contributions to criminal justice and human rights through his academic and judicial work, but also for the integrity, generosity and humanity he brought to everything he did. He will be remembered for his unwavering devotion to these causes, his exemplary professionalism and his genuine kindness.