What a brilliant event we had at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg on Monday, 20 April, 10:00-14.15
A full group of Oxonians and friends from our sister societies met up in the spring sun at 10am in front of the Court. We were met by a lively and experienced guide who took us through the ground floor areas and the judges gallery. We learned that the ECJ library holds 364000 books and other printed material and that it is the largest legal library in Europe, that there are 2300 people employed of who, a thousand translators and 500-600 lawyer linguists. They have 54 judges, ten chambers and around 900 cases a year. So it is a busy place! After the tour, we had a talk by the Irish judge, C. Mac Eochaidh, Judge at the General Court. He gave an insightful and personal talk which catered both for all the legal minds amongst us, and all of us who knew little of the workings of the court.
Then followed a delicious lunch hosted by Judge Elisabeth Tilly-Fisslberger at the judge’s restaurant on the 27th floor.
Thank you all for coming, for being so engaged and posing so many questions during the tour!
