Jacques Vergès - Judges, Family and Facts
Jacques Vergès's Personal Details
Jacques Vergès was a lawyer known for defending clients such as the infamous Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | March 5, 1925 |
| Died on | August 15, 2013 |
| Nationality | French |
| Famous | Lawyers & Judges, Judges, Lawyers |
| Spouses | Djamila Bouhired |
| Siblings | Paul Vergès |
| Known as | Jacques Verges |
| Childrens | Jacquou Vergès, Liess Vergès, Meriem Vergès |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Ubon Ratchathani |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Raymond Vergès |
| Sun Sign | Pisces |
| Born in | Ubon Ratchathani |
| Famous as | Lawyer |
| Died at Age | 88 |
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Jacques Vergès's photo
Who is Jacques Vergès?
Jacques Vergès was a celebrity lawyer in France. Jacques was born to a mixed race couple. As a result of Jacques and his twin brother's births, their father was forced to emigrate to another country to keep his government job. Vergès grew up proud of his multi-ethnic heritage, and as a teenager voluntarily enlisted in the military. After an extended service during the war, he enrolled in law school in Paris. He found his vocation as a student leader, first representing students of color and then the youth wing of an international political movement. After several years of political agitation work in another country, Vergès returned to Paris to practice law. One of his first controversial clients was a woman accused of participating in violent resistance to the colonial occupation of her homeland. After Jacques successfully saw her conviction pardoned, he married her. He was briefly imprisoned and lost his license to practice law as the state tried to discourage him from representing clients facing terrorism charges. After a mysterious and lengthy hiatus from both his public and private life, Vergès returned to Paris and continued to defend a number of notorious clients, including former heads of state and accused war criminals. After a lengthy career in the public eye, Vergès passed away from natural causes.
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Childhood & Early Life
Jacques Vergès was born on March 5, 1925 in Ubon Ratchathani, part of Rattanakosin Kingdom in Siam. His mother was Pham Thi Khang, an ethnic Vietnamese woman, while his father, Raymond Vergès, was a French diplomat. His mother died when he was 3 years old.
Jacques spent the majority of his childhood in Reunion, the French island. He had a twin brother named Paul. As a young boy, his father taught him how to throw stones at older bullies.
Career
In 1942, at age 17, the adolescent lad traveled to England to join the ‘Free French Forces’ led by Charles de Gaulle. He then fought as part of the anti-Nazi resistance forces.
In 1945, Vergès joined the ‘French Communist Party’. Later in the same year, he enrolled at the ‘University of Paris’, studying law.
He became president of the ‘Association for Colonial Students’ (AEC), in 1949. He thus met fellow AEC member Pol Pot.
In 1950, moved to Prague to lead a Communist youth organization. There he met Erich Honecker and Alexander Shelepin.
Vergès then moved to France in 1954 to pursue a career as a lawyer. He quickly gained infamy for his eagerness to take on controversial cases.
The budding lawyer first obtained national fame in 1957 after agreeing to represent Djamila Bouhired, a woman facing terrorist charges for her alleged connection to the bombing death of 11 people in Algeria. Although she was convicted and sentenced to death, she was later pardoned and freed following public outcry generated by Vergès.
In 1960, Jacques was sent to jail and had his law license stripped for "anti-state activities". After two months, he was freed and his license was reinstated.
In 1962, the lawyer obtained citizenship in newly-independent Algeria. He then changed his first name to Mansour, the Arabic name meaning 'Victorious'.
In 1968, Vergès and his wife founded a magazine entitled 'Revolution'.
In 1970, the legal executive mysteriously disappeared from public view. He left his wife and cut off all ties with friends and family for eight years. He has never explained his activities during this period.
After returning to practice law in France in 1978, he defended a number of individuals accused of terrorism, including Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and members of the ‘Baader Meinhof gang’.
In 1982, he defended Magdalena Kopp, the romantic partner of the terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, better known as ‘Carlos the Jackal’. Twelve years later, the attorney briefly worked on Sanchez's defense team.
In 1987, he achieved worldwide notoriety after defending Nazi leader Klaus Barbie. Barbie was later convicted on 341 charges of crimes against humanity.
In 1999, the legal practitioner sued ‘Amnesty International’ for his client, the government of Togo. The Togolese government was upset about the non-profit's report on Togolese governmental massacres ahead of local elections.
He sued an author of a book, in 2001, on behalf of the heads of state of the Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Chad. The author successfully defended his work at the ‘European Convention on Human Rights’.
In 2007, a documentary about the attorney was released entitled 'L'Avocat de la terreur' or 'Terror's Lawyer' in the English version.
In 2008, he was hired as part of a legal team to represent several former leaders of the Iraqi government. That same year, he wrote a play about himself entitled 'Serial Defender' and performed as himself at the ‘Theatre de la Madeleine’ in Paris.
In April 2011, Khieu Samphan, the former head of state of the Khmer Republic, was represented by Vergès during Cambodia's genocide tribunal.
Major Works
Jacques Vergès is internationally known for representing controversial clients, the most notorious of which was convicted Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie in 1987. The legal practitioner developed a trademark style dubbed as the ‘rupture strategy’, wherein he defended his clients by charging the prosecution with the same offenses.
Personal Life & Legacy
Jacques Vergès married Algerian nationalist Djamila Bouhired after first representing her in a case against the French government. Together they had three children: Jacquou, Meriem and Liess.
The eminent lawyer died in Paris on August 15, 2013 after a long illness followed by a fall several months earlier. Vergès died in the bedroom of the renowned French writer Voltaire.
The reputed attorney was proud of his multiracial heritage and even converted to Islam. He authored more than 20 non-fiction books.
Trivia
Despite his storied legal career, this eminent legal practitioner has declared that his first love was history. The English-language media's nickname for him was 'The Devil's advocate'. The French media's nicknamed him the 'Luminous Bastard'.
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Jacques Vergès biography timelines
- // 5th Mar 1925Jacques Vergès was born on March 5, 1925 in Ubon Ratchathani, part of Rattanakosin Kingdom in Siam. His mother was Pham Thi Khang, an ethnic Vietnamese woman, while his father, Raymond Vergès, was a French diplomat. His mother died when he was 3 years old.
- // 1942In 1942, at age 17, the adolescent lad traveled to England to join the ‘Free French Forces’ led by Charles de Gaulle. He then fought as part of the anti-Nazi resistance forces.
- // 1945In 1945, Vergès joined the ‘French Communist Party’. Later in the same year, he enrolled at the ‘University of Paris’, studying law.
- // 1949He became president of the ‘Association for Colonial Students’ (AEC), in 1949. He thus met fellow AEC member Pol Pot.
- // 1950In 1950, moved to Prague to lead a Communist youth organization. There he met Erich Honecker and Alexander Shelepin.
- // 1954Vergès then moved to France in 1954 to pursue a career as a lawyer. He quickly gained infamy for his eagerness to take on controversial cases.
- // 1957The budding lawyer first obtained national fame in 1957 after agreeing to represent Djamila Bouhired, a woman facing terrorist charges for her alleged connection to the bombing death of 11 people in Algeria. Although she was convicted and sentenced to death, she was later pardoned and freed following public outcry generated by Vergès.
- // 1960In 1960, Jacques was sent to jail and had his law license stripped for "anti-state activities". After two months, he was freed and his license was reinstated.
- // 1962In 1962, the lawyer obtained citizenship in newly-independent Algeria. He then changed his first name to Mansour, the Arabic name meaning 'Victorious'.
- // 1968In 1968, Vergès and his wife founded a magazine entitled 'Revolution'.
- // 1970In 1970, the legal executive mysteriously disappeared from public view. He left his wife and cut off all ties with friends and family for eight years. He has never explained his activities during this period.
- // 1978After returning to practice law in France in 1978, he defended a number of individuals accused of terrorism, including Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and members of the ‘Baader Meinhof gang’.
- // 1982In 1982, he defended Magdalena Kopp, the romantic partner of the terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, better known as ‘Carlos the Jackal’. Twelve years later, the attorney briefly worked on Sanchez's defense team.
- // 1987In 1987, he achieved worldwide notoriety after defending Nazi leader Klaus Barbie. Barbie was later convicted on 341 charges of crimes against humanity.
- // 1987Jacques Vergès is internationally known for representing controversial clients, the most notorious of which was convicted Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie in 1987. The legal practitioner developed a trademark style dubbed as the ‘rupture strategy’, wherein he defended his clients by charging the prosecution with the same offenses.
- // 1999In 1999, the legal practitioner sued ‘Amnesty International’ for his client, the government of Togo. The Togolese government was upset about the non-profit's report on Togolese governmental massacres ahead of local elections.
- // 2001He sued an author of a book, in 2001, on behalf of the heads of state of the Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Chad. The author successfully defended his work at the ‘European Convention on Human Rights’.
- // 2007In 2007, a documentary about the attorney was released entitled 'L'Avocat de la terreur' or 'Terror's Lawyer' in the English version.
- // 2008In 2008, he was hired as part of a legal team to represent several former leaders of the Iraqi government. That same year, he wrote a play about himself entitled 'Serial Defender' and performed as himself at the ‘Theatre de la Madeleine’ in Paris.
- // Apr 2011In April 2011, Khieu Samphan, the former head of state of the Khmer Republic, was represented by Vergès during Cambodia's genocide tribunal.
- // 15th Aug 2013The eminent lawyer died in Paris on August 15, 2013 after a long illness followed by a fall several months earlier. Vergès died in the bedroom of the renowned French writer Voltaire.
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Jacques Vergès's FAQ
What is Jacques Vergès birthday?
Jacques Vergès was born at 1925-03-05
When was Jacques Vergès died?
Jacques Vergès was died at 2013-08-15
Where was Jacques Vergès died?
Jacques Vergès was died in Paris
Which age was Jacques Vergès died?
Jacques Vergès was died at age 88
Where is Jacques Vergès's birth place?
Jacques Vergès was born in Ubon Ratchathani
What is Jacques Vergès nationalities?
Jacques Vergès's nationalities is French
Who is Jacques Vergès spouses?
Jacques Vergès's spouses is Djamila Bouhired
Who is Jacques Vergès siblings?
Jacques Vergès's siblings is Paul Vergès
Who is Jacques Vergès childrens?
Jacques Vergès's childrens is Jacquou Vergès, Liess Vergès, Meriem Vergès
What was Jacques Vergès universities?
Jacques Vergès studied at University of Paris
Who is Jacques Vergès's father?
Jacques Vergès's father is Raymond Vergès
What is Jacques Vergès's sun sign?
Jacques Vergès is Pisces
How famous is Jacques Vergès?
Jacques Vergès is famouse as Lawyer