Born on 26 July 1951 in Minden/Westfalen, widowed
1970
Abitur (German equivalent to A-levels) in Minden
1970 – 1975
Studied law in Göttingen und Bielefeld
1975
First state examination in Hamm
1978
Second state examination in Düsseldorf
Since 1978
Member of the FDP
Since 1987
Member of the FDP National Committee on Internal Affairs and Law
1979 - 1990
Employed by the German Patent Office in Munich, latterly ranked as Assistant Ministerial Counsellor
Since 1990
Member of the German Bundestag
Since 1991
Member of the Federal Executive of the FDP
Since 1992
Federal Minister of Justice
17 November 1994
Sworn in again as Federal Minister of Justice
17 January 1996
Resigned as Federal Minister of Justice following a decision by the FDP membership regarding policy on telephone tapping
2001 - 2002
Deputy Chairwoman of the FDP parliamentary group in the German Bundestag
Since 2005
Deputy Chairwoman of the FDP parliamentary group in the German Bundestag
Since October 2009
Federal Minister of Justice
