Law, Legitimacy and the Limits of the Courts — Georg Kodek, President of the Supreme Court of Austria

In this episode #2 of The Legal Community Speaks, hosts Mark Tottenham and Peter Leonard are joined by Georg Kodek, President of the Supreme Court of Austria and one of Europe’s most respected judicial figures.

In a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation recorded at the European Law Institute’s annual conference in Vienna, the Supreme Court President examines the proper boundaries of judicial authority and the increasing tension between law, politics, and public expectation.

He explains why courts — though essential to the rule of law — cannot alone resolve issues such as climate change, and warns of the “danger of disappointment” when citizens turn to human rights litigation for remedies that are inherently political.

Drawing on examples from climate litigation in Germany and beyond, Kodek discusses the fragility of public confidence in institutions, the decline of reasoned public debate, and the growing need for courts to communicate their decisions clearly and responsibly in an age of social media and instant commentary.

This conversation offers a rare insight into the perspective of a sitting Supreme Court President on the limits of judicial power, the independence of the judiciary, and the resilience of democratic systems in turbulent times.

Presented by:

Barristers Mark Tottenham and Peter Leonard

Produced by:

The Legal Community Speaks

Georg Kodek, Supreme Court of Austria, judicial independence, rule of law, European Law Institute, human rights law, climate litigation, constitutional law, public confidence in courts, legal ethics, comparative law, EU law, judicial communication

Listen on: Acast • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts

Follow: #EuropeanLawInstitute #RuleOfLaw #LegalCommunity #ELI #TheLegalCommunitySpeaks #PeterLeonard #MarkTottenham

A series of podcasts recorded at the ELI Annual Conference at the University of Vienna

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 1 – The Legal Community Speaks: Gratitude, Responsibility, and Imagination featuring Prof. Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballel

In this opening episode of The Legal Community Speaks, presented by Dublin-based barristers Mark Tottenham and Peter Leonard, we meet the new President of the ELI — a visionary jurist whose energy, intellect, and optimism are reshaping how Europe thinks about law, democracy, and the future.

Recorded at the ELI Annual Conference at the University of Vienna, Teresa shares her three guiding words — Gratitude, Responsibility, and Imagination — and why she believes law must evolve not just through doctrine, but through creativity. She reveals how the ELI’s work has already influenced major European legislation, including the EU’s Digital Services Act, and how she plans to expand the Institute’s global reach to Latin America, Asia, and beyond.

This conversation captures the spirit of the ELI: independent, collaborative, and dedicated to ensuring that law remains a living force for democracy and human rights.

🎙️ The Legal Community Speaks is produced by The Fifth Court team in association with the European Law Institute.

Hosted by Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL, this nine-part series brings you inside Europe’s legal community — where the minds shaping the future of law share their insights, stories, and ideals.

Listen on: Acast • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts

Follow: #EuropeanLawInstitute #RuleOfLaw #LegalCommunity #ELI #TheLegalCommunitySpeaks #PeterLeonard #MarkTottenham

A series of podcasts recorded at the ELI Annual Conference at the University of Vienna

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.