Olavi Heinonen, former president of Finland’s Supreme Court, passes away at 85

Olavi Heinonen, the former president of Finland’s Supreme Court, has passed away at the age of 85. His son, Hannu Heinonen, confirmed the news of his death, stating that Olavi succumbed to a long-term illness last Wednesday.

Heinonen served as the president of the Supreme Court for over 12 years, from 1989 to 2001. In 1970, he made history by becoming a member of the Supreme Court at the age of 32, earning the distinction of being the youngest person ever appointed to this position. He held the role of Justice for 20 years.

Throughout his career, Heinonen also held significant positions, including that of the parliamentary ombudsman and as an associate professor of criminal law at the University of Helsinki. His contributions significantly influenced the development of the Supreme Court’s operations, particularly in enhancing transparency, as evidenced by improvements in the reasoning behind court decisions.