Alfred Noll passes away: A tribute to the lawyer, politician, and free thinker
Picture a lawyer who doesn't just have a photographic memory for legal clauses, but also pens weighty tomes about Thomas Hobbes – and then enters the political arena. That was Alfred J. Noll, who passed away shortly after Christmas at the age of 63. A profound loss for Austria's legal landscape and for all who knew him as a sharp-tongued debater.
To many, he was simply "Alfred Noll" – the lawyer with the quiet voice and razor-sharp arguments. If you ever encountered him in court, you wouldn't forget him in a hurry. Whether it was about sensitive political trials or fundamental constitutional questions – Noll always guaranteed depth and unconventional thinking. His trademark? A sprinkle of philosophy in everyday legal practice.
From university professor to politician
Born in 1960, Alfred J. Noll had an impressive academic career early on. Post-doctoral qualification, university professor of law – but that was never enough for him. He wanted out of the ivory tower, into the thick of life. So, he didn't just write academic 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. He shook up federal politics for three years before returning to focus fully on legal practice in 2011.
A jurist with political instinct
As a Member of Parliament, Alfred Noll wasn't one to dutifully toe the party line. He always remained a contrarian, 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 prowess: as a legal observer for Caritas, using his legal acumen to expose the puppet masters behind the scenes.
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 frequently cited work "Thomas Hobbes – Alfred J. Noll: An Approach" and countless essays on legal philosophy and constitutional law.
- As a politician: Greens Member of the National Council (2008–2011) focusing on justice and the constitution.
- As a person: A quiet connoisseur who hid a dry wit behind his often pensive facade.
Speaking of wit: Sometimes his name was mistakenly written as "Alfred Noller" in the media. He was said to just give a tired smile about it – as long as the content was right, that was what mattered. And with him, the content was almost always right. When he pleaded before the Constitutional Court, not only the judges listened intently, but also the junior colleagues eager to learn from him.
A farewell filled with wistfulness
His death leaves a void. In recent days, companions from politics and the judiciary have bid farewell, and all agreed: Alfred J. Noll was the kind of jurist the country could do with more of – intelligent, incorruptible, and always seeking the truth behind the legal texts. 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, weighing every single word. And his ability to dissect complex issues so that even a layperson understood what was truly at stake. That's precisely what makes a great lawyer – not citing paragraphs, but explaining justice.
In that spirit: Rest in peace, Alfred Noll. The republic loses one of its brightest minds.