Ernst Hirsch Ballin

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Ernst Hirsch Ballin
Hirsch Ballin in 2013
Member of the Scientific Council for Government Policy
In office 1 July 2014 – 1 April 2019
Director	See list André Knottnerus (2014–2017) Corien Prins (2017–2019)
Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
In office 23 February 2010 – 14 October 2010
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Guusje Ter Horst
Succeeded by	Piet Hein Donner
Member of the Council of State
In office 1 November 2000 – 22 September 2006
Vice President	Herman Tjeenk Willink
Member of the Senate
In office 13 June 1995 – 1 November 2000
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 17 May 1994 – 1 June 1995
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal
Minister of the Interior
In office 10 January 1994 – 18 January 1994 Ad interim
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Ien Dales
Succeeded by	Ed van Thijn
Minister for Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs
In office 14 November 1989 – 27 May 1994
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Ruud Lubbers (Ad interim)
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
Minister of Justice
In office 22 September 2006 – 14 October 2010
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Rita Verdonk (Ad interim)
Succeeded by	Ivo Opstelten as Minister of Security and Justice
In office 7 November 1989 – 27 May 1994
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Frits Korthals Altes
Succeeded by	Aad Kosto
Personal details
Born	Ernst Maurits Henricus Hirsch (1950-12-15) 15 December 1950 (age 73) Amsterdam, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1982)
Parent	Ernst Denny Hirsch Ballin (1898–1975) (father)
Residence(s)	Tilburg, Netherlands
Alma mater	University of Amsterdam (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, Doctor of Law)
Occupation	Politician · civil servant · Jurist · Researcher · Nonprofit director · Academic administrator · Lobbyist · Editor · Author · professor

Ernst Maurits Henricus Hirsch Ballin (born 15 December 1950) is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and jurist.

After the election of 1989 Hirsch Ballin was appointed as Minister of Justice in the Cabinet Lubbers III, taking office on 7 November 1989. Hirsch Ballin was also appointed as Minister for Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs, taking office on 14 November 1989. Hirsch Ballin served as acting Minister of the Interior from 10 January 1994 until 18 January 1994 following the death of Ien Dales. Hirsch Ballin was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1994, taking office on 17 May 1994. On 27 May 1994 Hirsch Ballin and Minister of the Interior Ed van Thijn resigned following the conclusions of a parliamentary inquiry report into illegal interrogation techniques used by the police. Hirsch Ballin also served again as a professor of International law at the Tilburg University from 1 July 1994 until 22 September 2006 and also as a professor of Jurisprudence at the Tilburg University from 1 September 1996 until 22 September 2006. Hirsch Ballin was elected as a Member of the Senate after the Senate election of 1995, he resigned as a Member of the House of Representatives on 1 June 1995 and was installed as a Member of the Senate, taking office on 13 June 1995. In October 2000 Hirsch Ballin was nominated as Member of the Council of State, he resigned as a Member of the Senate the same day he was installed as a Member of the Council of State, taking office on 1 November 2000. Hirsch Ballin was appointed again as Minister of Justice in the Cabinet Balkenende III following the resignation of Piet Hein Donner, taking office on 22 September 2006. Shortly thereafter Hirsch Ballin announced that he would not stand for the election of 2006. Following the cabinet formation of 2006 Hirsch Ballin continued as Minister of Justice in the Cabinet Balkenende IV, taking office on 22 February 2007. The Cabinet Balkenende IV fell on 20 February 2010 after tensions in the coalition over the extension of the Dutch involvement in the Task Force Urozgan of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity with Hirsch Ballin continuing as Minister of Justice and also took over as Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, taking office on 23 February 2010. In April 2010 Hirsch Ballin announced that he would not stand for the election of 2010. Following the cabinet formation of 2010 Hirsch Ballin was not giving a cabinet post in the new cabinet, the Cabinet Balkenende IV was replaced by the Cabinet Rutte I on 14 October 2010.

Hirsch Ballin semi-retired from active politics and became active in the public sector and occupied numerous seats as a nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (Institute for Multiparty Democracy, European Christian Political Foundation, The Hague Institute for Global Justice, Carnegie Foundation, T.M.C. Asser Instituut, National Archives, Cordaid and the Anne Frank Foundation) and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government (Scientific Council for Government Policy, the Dutch Probation Agency and Public Pension Funds APB) and as an advocate and lobbyist for human rights, anti-war movement, social justice, and democracy. Hirsch Ballin also returned as a distinguished professor of constitutional law and European law at the Tilburg University since 1 April 2011 and as a distinguished professor of human rights at the University of Amsterdam since 1 May 2011. Hirsch Ballin is also a prolific author, having written more than sixty books since 1979 about politics, democracy, and law.

Hirsch Ballin is known for his abilities as a manager and policy wonk. Hirsch Ballin continues to comment on political affairs as of 2024 and holds the distinction as the longest-serving Minister of Justice with 8 years, 223 days.