Jens Christian Mellbye
Encyclopedia
Jens Christian Mellbye was a Norwegian judge. He served as a Supreme Court Justice
from 1968 to 1992.
He was born in Oslo
as a son of barrister Gunnar Lange Mellbye (1884–1958) and Aagot Maartmann-Moe (1888–1980). He was a brother of Fredrik Mellbye
, grandson of Christian Mellbye and first cousin once removed of Johan E. Mellbye
. He finished
his secondary education at Ris in 1931 and attended the Norwegian Military Academy
from 1931 to 1932. He gradually advanced to Captain. In 1938 he took the cand.jur. degree. He was a deputy judge in Skien District Court before being hired as junior solicitor in his father's law firm. He was a barrister with access to working with Supreme Court
cases from 1946. During the legal purge in Norway after World War II
, Mellbye served as a public prosecutor from 1945 to 1946 and prosecutor in the Supreme Court from 1946 to 1951.
He was a defender in Oslo City Court
from 1951 to 1961, and in the Supreme Court from 1961 to 1968. He was the chairman of the Norwegian Bar Association
from 1965 to 1968. He also chaired the Intelligence Oversight Committee
for many years. From 1968 to 1992 he served as a Supreme Court Justice
.
Mellbye was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1978. He had three children with his wife Ellen Ring Hartmann, whom he married in 1939. He died in March 1993 in Oslo.
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
from 1968 to 1992.
He was born in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a son of barrister Gunnar Lange Mellbye (1884–1958) and Aagot Maartmann-Moe (1888–1980). He was a brother of Fredrik Mellbye
Fredrik Mellbye
Fredrik Mellbye was a Norwegian physician.He was the brother judge Jens Christian Mellbye. He served as chief medical officer in Tromsø from 1946 to 1952, national chief physician for hygiene in the Norwegian Directorate for Health from 1950 to 1972 and chief medical officer in Oslo from 1972 to...
, grandson of Christian Mellbye and first cousin once removed of Johan E. Mellbye
Johan E. Mellbye
Johan Egeberg Mellbye was the leader of the Norwegian Centre Party in the period 1920–1921. He also served as Minister of Agriculture 1904–1905, representing the Conservative Party....
. He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education at Ris in 1931 and attended the Norwegian Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
from 1931 to 1932. He gradually advanced to Captain. In 1938 he took the cand.jur. degree. He was a deputy judge in Skien District Court before being hired as junior solicitor in his father's law firm. He was a barrister with access to working with Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
cases from 1946. During the legal purge in Norway after World War II
Legal purge in Norway after World War II
When the occupation of Norway ended in May 1945, several thousand Norwegians and foreign citizens were tried and convicted for various acts that the occupying powers sanctioned...
, Mellbye served as a public prosecutor from 1945 to 1946 and prosecutor in the Supreme Court from 1946 to 1951.
He was a defender in Oslo City Court
Oslo District Court
Oslo District Court is the district court serving Oslo, Norway. Cases may be appealed to Borgarting Court of Appeal. As the largest district court in Norway, it handles about 20% of all cases in the country...
from 1951 to 1961, and in the Supreme Court from 1961 to 1968. He was the chairman of the Norwegian Bar Association
Norwegian Bar Association
The Norwegian Bar Association is an association of Norwegian lawyers. It was established in 1908 as , and assumed its current name from 1965. As of 2008 the association had about 7,000 members. Among its publications are the journals Norsk Retstidende and Rettens Gang....
from 1965 to 1968. He also chaired the Intelligence Oversight Committee
Norwegian Parliamentary Intelligence Oversight Committee
The Norwegian Parliamentary Intelligence Oversight Committee , commonly known as the EOS Committee is the body responsible for supervising public intelligence, surveillance and security services. The body has seven members and is appointed by the Parliament of Norway...
for many years. From 1968 to 1992 he served as a Supreme Court Justice
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
.
Mellbye was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1978. He had three children with his wife Ellen Ring Hartmann, whom he married in 1939. He died in March 1993 in Oslo.