Helena Stinglová • foto: red. • 17 October 2012

Charles University awarded Prof. Alexy and Prof. Badinter with Doctor Honoris Causa Titles

17. 10. 2012; By: Helena Stinglová, Translation: Ivana Herglová; Proofreading: O.D.Okenla ; Section: English Digest

With great honor, Charles University awarded two influential jurists with Doctor Honoris Causa titles. Prof. Robert Alexy, a German Legal Philosopher and Constitutionalist and Prof. Robert Badinter, a French jurist, university teacher and politician were amongst those who were selected to be awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa in Law Sciences of Charles University on Wednesday 17th October 2012.

“We are thrilled to meet again on this extraordinary and overall inspiring occasion, when Charles University, one of the oldest universities in Europe, faithful to its historical traditions, shows the honour, respect and acknowledgment to those whose important and great achievements contributed to the culture, progress and welfare of the world. Charles University in accordance with its humane mission, its non-substitutable intellectual and spiritual mind awards the efforts of the prominent personalities from the fields of science, culture and social relations, serving to the benefit and prosperity of the whole humankind,” The Vice-rector of CU Assoc. Prof. PhDr. Michal Šobr, CSc. said.

The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. JUDr. Aleš Gerloch introduced both Prof. Alexy and Prof. Badinter. In Prof. Robert Alexy speech he spoke about his work in the field of Legal Philosophy and elaborated on his contribution in the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic.

“Professor Alexy belongs to the most quoted authors in the decisions of the Czech Constitutional Court,“ Prof. Gerloch remarked.

Prof. Robert Badinter who was also awarded with a Doctor Honoris Causa title is especially well-known as the former Minister of Justice and his influential support of the abolition of the death penalty in France.

“Professor Badinter as an important jurist and scientist who repeatedly held presentations at Charles University,“

according to Prof. Gerloch.

At the award ceremony of the Doctor Honoris Causa titles the following leading representatives of Czech judicial power were also present: President of the Czech Constitutional Court JUDr. Pavel Rychetský, president of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic JUDr. Iva Brožová, president of the Supreme Administrative Court JUDr. Josef Baxa and the Attorney General of the Czech Republic JUDr. Pavel Zeman.

Professor Robert Alexy

The German Legal Philosopher and Constitutionalist Prof. Robert Alexy was born in Oldenburg in year 1945. He studied and habilitated at University of Göttingen and since 1986 he has been Professor at the University of Kiel. His work and teaching has inspired many of his pupils, now active in many universities all around the world. He greatly influenced Czech law science and the present form of Czech Constitutional Jurisprudence. Two of his most important works consist of : “A Theory of Legal Argumentation” from 1978, “A Theory of Constitutional Rights” from 1985 and “The Argument from Injustice: A Reply to Legal Positivism” from 1992.

Professor Alexy is now closely cooperating with Faculty of Law of CU.

Professor Robert Badinter

The greatly acknowledged French jurist, university professor and politician Prof. Robert Badinter was born in Paris in the year 1928. He was a law professor at the Universities of Dijon, Besancon and Amiens, but the most important academic institution he worked for was Université Paris 1 (Panthéon-Sorbonne), where he spent 20 years of his academic life and where he was awarded also Professor Emeritus title.

He is an important figure of French history also as former President of Conseil d’État (Constitutional Council) and Minister of Justice. He also stood behind the cancellation of the death penalty in France in 1981.

Professor Badinter has a very positive relation to Czech Republic and also Charles University, where he is repeatedly offered lectures