Jean-Paul Costa
Encyclopedia
Jean-Paul Costa is a French jurist and has been President of the European Court of Human Rights
since 19 January 2007. He was first appointed a judge of the Court on 1 November 1998, and in 2009 was elected to serve an additional three years as President. His term at the Court will end on 3 November 2011.
, capital of Tunisia
, and educated at the Lycée Carnot in the city, but his family left when the country declared independence in 1957. He was then educated at the prestigious Lycée Henri-IV in Paris
, before studying at the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris
, better known as Sciences Po, graduating with an undergraduate diploma in 1961, Master of Laws
in 1962 and Diploma of Superior Studies in Public Law in 1964. He then studied from 1964 to 1966 at the École nationale d'administration
(National Management School).
, and from 1981 to 1984 was Director of the Office of the Minister of National Education
, Alain Savary
. From 1985 to 1986, he led the French delegation negotiating construction of the Channel Tunnel
, and from 1985 to 1989 taught at the International Institute of Public Administration. He was then appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Orléans
(1989-1998) and the Sorbonne (1992-1998).
On 1 May 2000, he rose to become a Section President and on 1 November 2001 Vice-President of the Court. On 19 January 2007, he succeeded Swiss Luzius Wildhaber
as President of the Court. He was re-elected to this post in 2009.
The British Government is trying to find out if they want to proceed towards giving prisoners the voting right. Jean-Paul Costa is alreay worried that the UK may turn in to what Greece looked like under the rule of the Colonels.
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
since 19 January 2007. He was first appointed a judge of the Court on 1 November 1998, and in 2009 was elected to serve an additional three years as President. His term at the Court will end on 3 November 2011.
Early life
Costa was born in TunisTunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, capital of Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, and educated at the Lycée Carnot in the city, but his family left when the country declared independence in 1957. He was then educated at the prestigious Lycée Henri-IV in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, before studying at the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris
Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris
The Institut d'études politiques de Paris , simply referred to as Sciences Po , is a public research and higher education institution in Paris, France, specialised in the social sciences. It has the status of grand établissement, which allows its admissions process to be highly selective...
, better known as Sciences Po, graduating with an undergraduate diploma in 1961, Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
in 1962 and Diploma of Superior Studies in Public Law in 1964. He then studied from 1964 to 1966 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...
(National Management School).
Career
In June 1966, Costa was appointed Auditeur in the Council of State, a body of the French national government that provides the executive branch with legal advice and acts as the administrative court of last resort. From 1968 to 1973, he lectured at Sciences PoInstitut d'Études Politiques de Paris
The Institut d'études politiques de Paris , simply referred to as Sciences Po , is a public research and higher education institution in Paris, France, specialised in the social sciences. It has the status of grand établissement, which allows its admissions process to be highly selective...
, and from 1981 to 1984 was Director of the Office of the Minister of National Education
Minister of National Education (France)
The Ministry of National Education, Youth, and Sport , or simply "Minister of National Education," as the title has changed no small number of times in the course of the Fifth Republic) is the French government cabinet member charged with running France's public educational system and with the...
, Alain Savary
Alain Savary
Alain Savary was a French Socialist politician, deputy to the National Assembly of France during the Fourth and Fifth Republic, chairman of the Socialist Party and a government minister in the 1950s and in 1981, when he was nominated by President François Mitterrand as Minister of National...
. From 1985 to 1986, he led the French delegation negotiating construction of the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
, and from 1985 to 1989 taught at the International Institute of Public Administration. He was then appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Orléans
University of Orléans
-History:In 1230, when for a time the doctors of the University of Paris were scattered, a number of the teachers and disciples took refuge in Orléans; when pope Boniface VIII, in 1298, promulgated the sixth book of the Decretals, he appointed the doctors of Bologna and the doctors of Orléans to...
(1989-1998) and the Sorbonne (1992-1998).
European Court of Human Rights
On 1 January, he was appointed the judge in respect of France at the newly-permanent European Court of Human RightsEuropean Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
On 1 May 2000, he rose to become a Section President and on 1 November 2001 Vice-President of the Court. On 19 January 2007, he succeeded Swiss Luzius Wildhaber
Luzius Wildhaber
Luzius Wildhaber is a Swiss judge. He was the first President of the European Court of Human Rights in its new format after the ratification of Protocol 11, which opened up direct access for citizens from the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. Wildhaber was elected on 24 July 1998, and...
as President of the Court. He was re-elected to this post in 2009.
The British Government is trying to find out if they want to proceed towards giving prisoners the voting right. Jean-Paul Costa is alreay worried that the UK may turn in to what Greece looked like under the rule of the Colonels.