Robert Lecourt facts for kids
Robert Lecourt (born September 19, 1908 – died August 9, 2004) was a French politician and lawyer. He also served as a judge and was the fourth President of the European Court of Justice. He was born in Pavilly and passed away in Boulogne-Billancourt.
As a judge at the European Court of Justice, he made a very important decision. This decision was in a case called Costa v ENEL. It helped to establish that European Union law is more powerful than the laws of individual member countries.
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Robert Lecourt's Early Life and Career
Robert Lecourt studied at a college in Rouen. After that, he studied law at the University of Rouen. By 1932, he became a lawyer. He worked as a lawyer in Rouen and later at the Court of Appeal in Paris.
In 1936, he became the president of the Youth People's Democratic Party. This showed his early interest in politics. When World War II started in 1939, he was a lieutenant in the army.
Joining the French Resistance
During the war, Robert Lecourt became very involved in the French Resistance. This was a secret movement of people who fought against the German occupation of France. He was an important member of their leadership team.
A Career in French Politics
After the war, Robert Lecourt continued his political career. In 1958, he was elected to represent an area called Hautes-Alpes. He was a member of the MRP party.
He served in the French Parliament for many years. He even led his party's group in the French National Assembly. This is like the main law-making body in France.
Leading the European Court of Justice
Robert Lecourt became a judge at the European Court of Justice in 1962. This court helps make sure that European Union laws are followed. He served as a judge for 14 years.
From 1967 to 1976, he was the President of the Court. This is a very important role. During his time, he had a big impact on how European law developed.
The Costa v. ENEL Case
In 1964, Robert Lecourt was involved in the famous Costa v. ENEL case. In this case, the Court of Justice decided that European law is more important than national laws. This was a huge step for the European Union.
Lecourt strongly believed that European judges should help create a closer union among European countries. He worked to convince national courts to work together with the European Court.
Helping National Judges Understand EU Law
After becoming president, Lecourt worked on a plan to help judges in different countries. He wanted them to understand how they could ask the European judges questions about European laws. This process is called a "preliminary ruling." It helps make sure that laws are understood the same way across Europe.
After he retired from the Court, Lecourt wrote a book. It was called "L'Europe des Juges" (The Europe of Judges). This book explained important decisions and rules of European law to lawyers and judges.
Robert Lecourt's Government Roles
Robert Lecourt held several important positions in the French government. Here are some of them:
- Minister of Justice (in charge of legal matters) in different governments between 1947 and 1958.
- Minister of State (a senior minister) in the government of Michel Debré from 1959 to 1961. In this role, he worked on cooperation with African countries and Madagascar. He also oversaw areas like the Sahara and other overseas territories.
See Also
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Robert Lecourt (1970)
| Legal offices
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|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles Léon Hammes |
President of the European Court of Justice 1967–1976 |
Succeeded by Hans Kutscher |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by André Marie |
Minister of Justice of France 26 June 1948 – 11 September 1948 |
Succeeded by André Marie |
| Preceded by André Marie |
Minister of Justice of France 13 February 1949 – 28 October 1949 |
Succeeded by René Mayer |
| Preceded by Édouard Corniglion-Molinier |
Minister of Justice of France 6 November 1957 – 1 June 1958 |
Succeeded by Michel Debré |
