Benjamin Martinson

Dr. Benjamin Martinson (*22. 12. 1947) was the first Secretary General of the International Democratic Union Council from January 27 to March 7 2007, and has been chairman of the Saidercrayan Supreme Court (2003-2005, member of the SC 1999-2005).

Martinson, born at Cuvesbrige as son of Protestant Rev Richard Martinson and his wife Carla Martinson, studied jurispundence and sociology at the Malcom Moore University of Telychester and graduated as dr. jur. in 1978. His work as judge begun in 1980 at the Criminal Court of Dropaney. In 1992, he became member of the National Criminal Court, and became its chairman in 1997. In 1999, President John Ceitan appointed him to the Supreme Court, whose chairman he became in 2003. He retired from his office in 2005 due to sanitary reasons. Although he was in good health again in 2006, he decided not to stand for the first election of the members of the Supreme Court after the People's Justice Act had deprived the President of the right to nominate the SC's judges. In lieu of this, he worked as visiting lecturer at his alma mater in Telychester, until he was elected as Secretary General of the IDUC in January 2007.

Martinson is reputed to be a strong advocate of a liberal jurisdiction clearly focussing on re-socialisation. While opponents call him "the cosy judge" and reporach him with allowing the protection of committers to take precendence of the portection of victims, supporters esteem him highly for respecting the human ability to mend one's ways and for being willing "to turn criminals into good members of society rather than into long-time prisoners outside society", as he himself describes the purpose of jurisdiction.

Martinson, married to his wife Patricia since 1976, is father of three children and lives at Telychester. He is a passionate photographer and swimmer and likes to visit concerts of jazz musicians.