 In 1993, Bratza was appointed a Recorder of the Crown Court and elected a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn.In the same year, he was appointed as the UK Member of the European Commission of Human Rights, part of the European Convention on Human Rights system of the Council of Europe.In 1998, the Commission was abolished and replaced by a permanent European Court of Human Rights, and Bratza was elected as the Judge of this Court representing the United Kingdom.