Alfred Noll passes away: A tribute to the lawyer, politician, and free thinker
Picture a lawyer who not only knows the law inside and out, but also writes hefty books about Thomas Hobbes – and then, on top of that, goes into politics. That was Alfred J. Noll, who passed away shortly after Christmas at the age of 63. A profound loss for the Austrian legal landscape and for everyone who knew him as a sharp-tongued debater.
For many, he was simply "Alfred Noll" – the lawyer with the quiet voice and razor-sharp arguments. Anyone who ever encountered him in court wouldn't forget him in a hurry. Whether it was high-profile political trials or fundamental constitutional questions – Noll was always a guarantee of depth and unconventional thinking. His trademark? A touch of philosophy woven into everyday legal practice.
From university professor to politician
Born in 1960, Alfred J. Noll embarked on a stellar academic career early on. He completed his post-doctoral lecturing qualification and became a university professor of law – but that was never enough for him. He wanted to leave the ivory tower and dive into the thick of real life. So, he not only wrote scholarly treatises (including a highly-regarded work on Thomas Hobbes) but also founded his own law firm. And then, in 2008, he was elected to the National Council for the Greens. For three years, he shook up federal politics, until he returned his full focus to legal practice in 2011.
A legal mind with political instinct
As an MP, Alfred Noll wasn't one to dutifully toe the party line. He always remained a free thinker, someone who preferred to look twice before passing judgment. This didn't always make him comfortable – but it always made him credible. During the proceedings of the Hypo Alpe Adria investigative committee, he once again demonstrated his full skill set: acting as a legal observer for Caritas, using his legal acumen to expose the key players pulling the strings.
His career was marked by an impressive range:
- As a lawyer: Representing clients in highly sensitive cases, such as for Caritas in the Hypo investigative committee or for whistleblowers.
- As an author: Numerous publications, including the widely-cited work "Thomas Hobbes – Alfred J. Noll: An Approach" and countless essays on legal philosophy and constitutional law.
- As a politician: Green Party MP in the National Council (2008–2011) with a focus on justice and the constitution.
- As a person: A quiet intellectual who, behind his often thoughtful exterior, possessed a dry wit.
Speaking of humour: his name was sometimes mistakenly written as "Alfred Noller" in the media. He was said to have only given a tired smile about it – as long as the content was right, that was the main thing. And with him, the content was almost always right. When he pleaded before the Constitutional Court, it wasn't just the judges who listened intently, but also the young colleagues eager to learn from him.
A farewell filled with sadness
His death leaves a void. In recent days, companions from politics and the judiciary have paid their respects, and all agreed on one thing: Alfred J. Noll was the kind of legal professional the country could do with more of – intelligent, incorruptible, and always searching for the truth behind the letter of the law. From judicial circles, it was heard that the republic is losing one of its most distinguished minds. Colleagues remember his quiet manner, the brief pauses before an answer, during which he carefully weighed every word. And his ability to dissect complex issues so that even a layperson could understand what was truly at stake. That's precisely what makes a great legal mind – not just citing paragraphs, but explaining justice.
In that spirit: Rest in peace, Alfred Noll. The republic loses one of its brightest minds.