Hans-Peter Kaul
Encyclopedia
Hans-Peter Kaul is a German judge
, international law
scholar, and former diplomat
. Since 11 March 2003 he has served as Justice
at the International Criminal Court
in The Hague
. In March 2009, he was appointed vice president of the court.
in 1971, and subsequently took up graduate studies at the École nationale d'administration
. Thereafter, Kaul joined the Max Planck Institute for International Law at Heidelberg
as a research assistant. In 1975, he entered the German diplomatic service. Among other duties, he served as Consul
at the German Embassy to Norway
, as Political Counsellor at the German Embassy to the United States
, and as Head of the Division for International Law of the Federal Foreign Ministry of Germany
. In the latter capacity, he played a major role in the establishment of the International Criminal Court. In 2002, he was appointed German Ambassador
and Commissioner of the Federal Foreign Ministry of Germany for the International Criminal Court. Since 11 March 2003 he has served as Justice
at the International Criminal Court
, and was elected vice president of the court in March 2009.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
scholar, and former diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. Since 11 March 2003 he has served as Justice
Judges of the International Criminal Court
The eighteen judges of the International Criminal Court are elected for nine-year terms by the member-countries of the court. Candidates must be nationals of those countries and they must "possess the qualifications required in their respective States for appointment to the highest judicial...
at the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. In March 2009, he was appointed vice president of the court.
Life
After his military duty from 1963 to 1967, he graduated from Heidelberg University Law SchoolHeidelberg University Faculty of Law
The University of Heidelberg Faculty of Law , located in Heidelberg, Germany, is one of the original four constituent faculties of the University of Heidelberg...
in 1971, and subsequently took up graduate studies at the École nationale d'administration
École nationale d'administration
The École Nationale d'Administration , one of the most prestigious of French graduate schools , was created in 1945 by Charles de Gaulle to democratise access to the senior civil service. It is now entrusted with the selection and initial training of senior French officials...
. Thereafter, Kaul joined the Max Planck Institute for International Law at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
as a research assistant. In 1975, he entered the German diplomatic service. Among other duties, he served as Consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
at the German Embassy to Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, as Political Counsellor at the German Embassy to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and as Head of the Division for International Law of the Federal Foreign Ministry of Germany
Foreign Office (Germany)
The Foreign Office is the foreign ministry of Germany, a federal agency responsible for both the country's foreign politics and its relationship with the European Union. From 1871 to 1919, it was led by a Foreign Secretary, and since 1919, it has been led by the Foreign Minister of Germany...
. In the latter capacity, he played a major role in the establishment of the International Criminal Court. In 2002, he was appointed German Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
and Commissioner of the Federal Foreign Ministry of Germany for the International Criminal Court. Since 11 March 2003 he has served as Justice
Judges of the International Criminal Court
The eighteen judges of the International Criminal Court are elected for nine-year terms by the member-countries of the court. Candidates must be nationals of those countries and they must "possess the qualifications required in their respective States for appointment to the highest judicial...
at the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
, and was elected vice president of the court in March 2009.
Selected publications
- "Developments at the International Criminal Court – Construction Site for More Justice: The International Criminal Court After Two Years", American Journal of International Law, Vol. 99, No 2, April 2005, pp 370-384.
- "Germany: Methods and techniques used to deal with constitutional, sovereignty and criminal law issues”, in Roy S. Lee (ed.), Giving Effect to the International Criminal Court: Methods and Techniques for Handling Issues of Criminal Law, Constitution, and Sovereignty, forthcoming (2005).
- "Substantive Criminal Law in the Rome Statute and its implementation in national legislation”, in ICRC/Damascus University Faculty of Law, The International Criminal Court and Enlarging the Scope of International Humanitarian Law- Damascus Symposium, 13-14 December 2003, (2004), pp. 277-306 (also published in Arabic).
- "Preconditions to the Exercise of Jurisdiction", in: Antonio Cassese et al. (eds.), The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: A Commentary, pp. 583-618, Oxford University Press, 3 volumes, 2002.