Mr. van Leest is currently the president of the Gelderland court. Previously, he was a judge at the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal and chief public prosecutor in the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Public Prosecution Service. Mr. van Leest is the successor of Mr. P.W.E.C. (Peter) Pulles.
The Council for the Judiciary is the organization of the judiciary in the Netherlands. The Council does not administer justice itself but serves as the point of contact for the judiciary and represents the common interest of various courts and courts of appeal. The Council manages the budget of the judiciary, supervises the operations of individual courts, and supports courts for uniform application of law and legal quality. The Council also advises on policy and legislation regarding the judiciary. The Council consists of 5 members appointed by royal decree, of which 2 do not belong to the judiciary. The chair is always a judge.