This event marks the third occasion of our A View from the Bench research seminar series, which offers a rare opportunity to engage with former and sitting constitutional judges and to gain personal insight into the practice of constitutional adjudication. Moving beyond the formal analysis of legal doctrine, the series explores the human and institutional dimensions of constitutional judging, focusing on the experiences, pressures, and responsibilities that accompany the interpretation of a nation’s fundamental law.

We are delighted to host Professor Marc Bossuyt, Emeritus President of the Constitutional Court of Belgium, Emeritus Professor at the University of Antwerp, and member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. His extensive experience combines constitutional adjudication, international governance, and human rights law.

The conversation will centre on Professor Bossuyt’s experience at the intersection of constitutional adjudication and international human rights governance. Drawing on his years at the Belgian Constitutional Court and within United Nations human rights bodies, the discussion will examine how constitutional judges navigate tensions between domestic constitutional orders and international legal commitments, and how judicial authority is exercised in politically and morally contested contexts. The event offers insight into how constitutional judging is shaped not only by legal doctrine, but also by sustained engagement with global human rights institutions and transnational legal practice.

 

 

Guest: Marc Bossuyt - Emeritus President of the Constitutional Court of Belgium, Emeritus Professor at the University of Antwerp, member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. A leading expert in international law and human rights, he has held numerous prominent positions, including President of the UN Commission on Human Rights, member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons.

Date: 28 April 2026, 5:30 pm

Venue: Budapest, 1113 Tas vezér utca 3-7., Kinizsi Pál Room

 

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MCC students can earn credit for actively participating in the event, provided they read the required chapters and paper(s) and prepare three questions for the Q&A session of the research seminar.

Questions related to the required reading must be submitted to Kálmán Pócza at pocza.kalman@mcc.hu by 11:00 PM on 26 April, 2026.

Required Reading: Please contact Kálmán Pócza to obtain the electronic version of the paper.

Submission Deadline: 26 April 2026, 11:00 PM

 

Previous Research Seminars: