Minister of Justice Leena Meri

The Finns Party

Ministry of Justice

Minister of Justice Leena Meri heads the Ministry of Justice.

Minister Meri is responsible for all other matters covered by the Ministry of Justice except for those related to the autonomy of Åland, which fall under the responsibility of Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen.

Profile

Leena Meri was born on 12 April 1968 in Helsinki, where she also spent her childhood and youth. 
 
Having completed her general upper secondary education at Töölön yhteiskoulu in 1987, Meri continued her studies at the University of Helsinki and graduated with a Master of Laws degree in 2000. Her Master's thesis, entitled Jäämistösuunnittelu ja uusperhe ('Estate Planning and Blended Families'), dealt with family and inheritance law. Meri completed her court training at Riihimäki District Court and was awarded the honorary title of Master of Laws (Trained on the Bench) in 2003.
 
Meri has served as a Member of Parliament since 2015. In 2017–2019, she chaired the Finns Party Parliamentary Group. 
 
She chaired the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament from June 2019 to June 2023. She was elected the first deputy party leader of the Finns Party in August 2021.
 
Meri, who currently lives in Hyvinkää, is also actively involved in municipal politics. She has been a member of Hyvinkää City Council since 2013, and she was also a member and vice chair of Hyvinkää City Executive in 2013–2023.
 
Before entering politics, Meri worked in several fields of law, including as a district registrar and referendary at a court of appeal and at the Insurance Court and as an associate lawyer at a law firm. Earlier, she also had a law firm of her own.
 
Meri is known as an animal lover, and she has two rescue dogs. She is also a co-owner of a Finnhorse.