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Friday, 28 April 2023

Renowned jurist Professor Jean Paul Costa sadly passed away

A good friend of the EPLO and very distinguished French jurist Jean-Paul Costa, former President of the European Court of Human Rights, Honorary President of the International Institute of Human Rights – Fondation René Cassin (IIHR) and Honorary Councellor of State sadly passed away today at the age of 81. He has been a long standing member of the European Group of Public law and a valued member of the EPLO family.

As a lawyer, he joined the Council of State in 1966 before becoming director of the cabinet of Minister Alain Savary, from 1981 to 1984, then professor of law in Orléans and at the Sorbonne, where he taught civil liberties.

Elected judge in respect of France at the European Court of Human Rights in 1998, he became its president in 2007. Reached the age limit (70 years old), he had to leave the ECHR in 2011 but remained in Strasbourg where he was very active. He had notably been elected president of the René-Cassin Foundation (formerly International Institute for Human Rights, IIDH), based in Strasbourg. He became honorary president in 2021.

The EPLO family is deeply saddened by his loss and wishes to send the most sincere condolences to his family.

tags: jean-paul costa, passed