Knut Selmer
Encyclopedia
Knut Sejersted Selmer was a Norwegian legal scholar.
He was born in Aker
as a son of professor Ernst Westerlund Selmer (1890–1971) and Ella Sejersted (1895–1968). He was a grandnephew of Johan Selmer and Jens Selmer and a first cousin of Francis Sejersted
. He finished
his secondary education in 1944 and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1949. He was a deputy judge in Nord-Troms
and Fredrikstad between 1949 and 1952. In January 1950 he married Elisabeth Schweigaard
.
He was a research fellow
at the University of Oslo
from 1953 to 1959, took the dr.juris degree in 1958 on the thesis The Survival of General Average. A Necessity or an Anachronism?, and also had an average adjuster exam from 1954. He was appointed as a professor of insurance law
at the University of Oslo in 1959, and remained here until 1989. He served as dean from 1970 to 1973. His fields in addition to insurance law were maritime law, tort
, computer law
and privacy law
. His best known book was Forsikringsrett (1982), and he also expanded on Ragnar Knoph's basic law book together with Birger Stuevold Lassen, issued the fourth through seventh edidions of Knophs oversikt over Norges rett between 1966 and 1975.
Together with Jon Bing he organized the "department for EDB issues" in 1971, the current Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law
, creating one of the world's first centres of research into that type of issues. Selmer he has also chaired the boards of the Norwegian Data Inspectorate
and Lovdata
.
He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1961 and was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1993 as well as with the Defence Medal 1940–1945. He died in March 2009 in Oslo. A bust
of him is located at the Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law.
He was born in Aker
Aker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
as a son of professor Ernst Westerlund Selmer (1890–1971) and Ella Sejersted (1895–1968). He was a grandnephew of Johan Selmer and Jens Selmer and a first cousin of Francis Sejersted
Francis Sejersted
Francis Sejersted is a Norwegian history professor and former chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.Sejersted was educated in history as well as nordic language and literature at the University of Oslo and achieved a candidatus philologiæ in 1965 and a doctorate in 1973.From 1971 to 1973...
. He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1944 and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1949. He was a deputy judge in Nord-Troms
Nord-Troms District Court
Nord-Troms District Court is a district court in Tromsø, Norway. It covers Troms north of Malangen, plus Svalbard, and is subordinate Hålogaland Court of Appeal, with whom it shares a courthouse. The municipalities which are under the court are Tromsø, Karlsøy, Balsfjord, Storfjord, Gáivuotna –...
and Fredrikstad between 1949 and 1952. In January 1950 he married Elisabeth Schweigaard
Elisabeth Schweigaard Selmer
Ragnhild Elisabeth Schweigaard Selmer was a Norwegian jurist and politician for the Conservative Party.-Personal life:...
.
He was a research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
from 1953 to 1959, took the dr.juris degree in 1958 on the thesis The Survival of General Average. A Necessity or an Anachronism?, and also had an average adjuster exam from 1954. He was appointed as a professor of insurance law
Insurance law
Insurance law is the name given to practices of law surrounding insurance, including insurance policies and claims. It can be broadly broken into three categories - regulation of the business of insurance; regulation of the content of insurance policies, especially with regard to consumer...
at the University of Oslo in 1959, and remained here until 1989. He served as dean from 1970 to 1973. His fields in addition to insurance law were maritime law, tort
Tort
A tort, in common law jurisdictions, is a wrong that involves a breach of a civil duty owed to someone else. It is differentiated from a crime, which involves a breach of a duty owed to society in general...
, computer law
Legal aspects of computing
Legal aspects of computing are related to the over-lapping areas of law and computing.The first one, historically, was Information Technology Law...
and privacy law
Privacy law
Privacy law refers to the laws which deal with the regulation of personal information about individuals which can be collected by governments and other public as well as private organizations and its storage and use....
. His best known book was Forsikringsrett (1982), and he also expanded on Ragnar Knoph's basic law book together with Birger Stuevold Lassen, issued the fourth through seventh edidions of Knophs oversikt over Norges rett between 1966 and 1975.
Together with Jon Bing he organized the "department for EDB issues" in 1971, the current Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law
Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law
Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law at the University of Oslo is the second-oldest academic institution in the world working specifically with the interrelationship of law and information / communication technology...
, creating one of the world's first centres of research into that type of issues. Selmer he has also chaired the boards of the Norwegian Data Inspectorate
Norwegian Data Inspectorate
The Norwegian Data Inspectorate is Norwegian Government agency responsible for managing the Personal Data Act of 2000, concerning privacy concerns...
and Lovdata
Lovdata
Lovdata is a foundation which publishes judicial information of Norway.It publishes the periodical Norsk Lovtidend, and Lov&Data and EuroRett, and hosts a website with free, public access to all Norwegian laws and other judicial documents, including court rulings. It was established on 1 July 1981...
.
He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1961 and was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1993 as well as with the Defence Medal 1940–1945. He died in March 2009 in Oslo. A bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of him is located at the Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law.