Sjur Brækhus
Encyclopedia
Sjur Brækhus was a Norwegian legal scholar and judge.
He was born in Bergen
as a son of captain and ship-owner Sigurd Alfred Brækhus (1879–1952) and Hilda Sverresdatter Klingenberg (1884–1957). He finished
his secondary education at Frogner school in 1936 and graduated with the cand.jur. degree at the University of Oslo
in 1941. He was a deputy judge in Eiker, Modum and Sigdal District Court from 1941 to 1942. He became a research fellow
at the University of Oslo in 1945 and took the dr.juris degree in 1947 with the thesis Meglerens rettslige stilling. He was married twice, the first time from 1945 to 1957.
He was hired as a docent
at the University of Oslo in 1947, and was promoted to professor already in 1948. He remained here until retirement in 1988. He served as dean from 1963 to 1967. His main field was private law
in general, and his main work was Omsetning og kreditt, released in four volumes between 1985 and 1998. Sub-fields of note were maritime law, bankruptcy law and court law. Other well-known books are Norsk tingsrett (1964 with Axel Hærem), Bergning (1968), Konkursrett (1969), and Sjørett, voldgift og lovvalg (1998). He edited the journal Arkiv for Sjørett from 1951 to 1970.
He was also an acting presiding judge in Eidsivating Court of Appeal
in 1953 as well as an arbitration court judge. He was a proponent for the Riksmål written form of the Norwegian language, and was a member of the Norwegian Language Council
from 1976 to 1991 and the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature
from 1976 to his death.
He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1950 and held honorary degree
s at the University of Copenhagen
and Stockholm University
. He was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1981, a Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland in 1990 as well as a Knight of the Order of the Polar Star
. He died in May 2009.
He was born in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
as a son of captain and ship-owner Sigurd Alfred Brækhus (1879–1952) and Hilda Sverresdatter Klingenberg (1884–1957). 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 Frogner school in 1936 and graduated with the cand.jur. degree at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1941. He was a deputy judge in Eiker, Modum and Sigdal District Court from 1941 to 1942. He became a research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
at the University of Oslo in 1945 and took the dr.juris degree in 1947 with the thesis Meglerens rettslige stilling. He was married twice, the first time from 1945 to 1957.
He was hired as a docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
at the University of Oslo in 1947, and was promoted to professor already in 1948. He remained here until retirement in 1988. He served as dean from 1963 to 1967. His main field was private law
Private law
Private law is that part of a civil law legal system which is part of the jus commune that involves relationships between individuals, such as the law of contracts or torts, as it is called in the common law, and the law of obligations as it is called in civilian legal systems...
in general, and his main work was Omsetning og kreditt, released in four volumes between 1985 and 1998. Sub-fields of note were maritime law, bankruptcy law and court law. Other well-known books are Norsk tingsrett (1964 with Axel Hærem), Bergning (1968), Konkursrett (1969), and Sjørett, voldgift og lovvalg (1998). He edited the journal Arkiv for Sjørett from 1951 to 1970.
He was also an acting presiding judge in Eidsivating Court of Appeal
Eidsivating Court of Appeal
Eidsivating Court of Appeal is the court of appeal located in Hamar, Norway. It serves the counties of Hedmark, Oppland and northern Akershus. In addition to Hamar, the court may meet in Lillehammer and Eidsvoll...
in 1953 as well as an arbitration court judge. He was a proponent for the Riksmål written form of the Norwegian language, and was a member of the Norwegian Language Council
Norwegian Language Council
The Norwegian Language Council was the regulation authority for the Norwegian language. It has been superseded by The Language Council of Norway .The council had 38 members, and created lists of acceptable word forms...
from 1976 to 1991 and the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature
Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature
The Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature is a Norwegian learned body on matters pertaining to the Dano-Norwegian language. Its primary role is regulating the written standard known as Riksmål ....
from 1976 to his death.
He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1950 and held honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
and Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
. He was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1981, a Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland in 1990 as well as a Knight of the Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
. He died in May 2009.