Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
One of the characteristics of the 21st century is the "juridification" of society. This notion relates to the extension of the power of judges, which are required to deal with a growing number of political and social problems. If this is the case, would "excessive legalisation" be likely to call into question the organization of our political systems? Would this not ultimately lead to the transformation of judges into "producers of standards"?
Based on two books (Pouvoir politique et audace des juges et Pour une commune justice) and a large collection of judgments, the course consists of three main learning stages. First, the political power of judges and the phenomenon of judiciarisation are defined through the scientific literature. Secondly, the three main political functions of judges (the production of norms, the arbitration of moral values and the perpetuation of the political system) are identified through numerous judgments (see the collection of judgments). In a third step, the legitimacy of judges' decisions is examined in its organic, procedural and substantive dimensions.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- define the phenomenon of excessive legalisation;
- contextualise and understand the growing place of judges in political and social systems;
- identify and analyse the political functions of judges based on the reading of numerous court decisions;
- cast a critical look at the place of judges in political and social systems.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Prerequisites include knowledge of the Belgian and European institutional systems.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The learning activities consist of flipped classes. For each class session, students are asked to prepare and present (for 45 minutes) one or more case studies based on the course syllabus distributed during the course presentation. At the end of each presentation, the other students must ask questions of the students who have presented one or more case studies.
For each judgment prepared and presented, students must submit a maximum of one page (Word version, Times 12, single-spaced) summarising its content, distinguishing between the facts and the decision taken by the judges. The summary(s) must be sent by Monday January 6 at 4 p.m. at the latest.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
Face-to-face. Attendance is compulsory. Any unjustified absence will result in the withdrawal of one point from the final grade for each day of absence. Each week, students are required to read a number of judgments which they present during the course sessions, according to an order determined during the first class.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège
Other site(s) used for course materials
- Orbi (http://hdl.handle.net/2268/249909)
Further information:
Compulsory readings :
Grandjean Geoffrey, Pouvoir politique et audace des juges. Approche européenne et comparée, Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2018, 335 p.
Grandjean Geoffrey, Pour une commune justice, Bruxelles, Liberté j'écris ton nom, 2022, 90 p.
Grandjean Geoffrey, Judiciarisation des systèmes politiques et sociaux. Recueil d'arrêts. 5e édition revue et augmentée, Presses Universitaires de Liège, 2024-2025, 817 p., disponible à l'adresse suivante : http://hdl.handle.net/2268/249909.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Continuous assessment is certificated. In other words, students are assessed on the basis of 1) their presentation and analysis of the case studies/themes, 2) their criticism of the case studies/themes and 3) their participation in discussions relating to the case studies/themes.
The following criteria are used to assess students: 1) completeness of the presentation of the case studies/themes, 2) ability to explain the case studies/themes, 3) in a structured manner, 4) ability to identify the legal and political issues raised by the case studies/themes and 5) ability to take a critical look at the case studies/themes presented.
For each case prepared and presented, students submit a maximum of one page (Word version, Times 12, single spacing) of a summary of the content of the judgment, distinguishing the facts from the decision taken by the judges. The summary(ies) must be sent by Monday, January 6 at 4 p.m. at the latest.
There are no exams in January.
For the second session, students are invited to contact the professor.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
This course is only offered on even years (2024-2025, 2026-2027, 2028-2029...).
Contacts
I am present at the University every day. Do not hesitate to contact me to meet me. You can contact me by email as I respond quickly.
When a question deserves, in my opinion, a collective answer, I will answer it during the next class session.
Here are my contact details:
Pr. Dr Geoffrey Grandjean
Professeur
Faculté de Droit, de Science politique et de Criminologie
Place des orateurs, 3
4000 Liège
Boîte 11
Bureau 2.17
Tel. : +32 (0)4/366.96.60
Courriel : Geoffrey.Grandjean@uliege.be