The judges

La Cour est composée de douze juges, nommés à vie par le Roi sur une liste double présentée alternativement par la Chambre des représentants et le Sénat. Cette liste est adoptée à la majorité des deux tiers au moins des suffrages des membres présents.

Composition of the Constitutional Court on 21 April 2026
Six juges appartiennent au groupe linguistique français, six au groupe linguistique néerlandais. Un des juges doit avoir une connaissance suffisante de l’allemand. Dans chaque groupe linguistique, trois juges sont nommés sur la base de leur expérience juridique (professeur de droit dans une université belge, magistrat à la Cour de cassation ou au Conseil d’État ou référendaire à la Cour constitutionnelle) et trois juges sont nommés en raison d’une expérience de cinq ans au moins comme membre d’une assemblée parlementaire. La Cour est composée de juges de sexe différent, à raison au moins d’un tiers pour le groupe le moins nombreux, étant entendu que ce groupe doit être représenté dans les deux catégories professionnelles précitées.

L’âge minimum pour être nommé juge est de quarante ans accomplis. Les juges peuvent exercer leurs fonctions jusqu’à septante ans. Des incompatibilités strictes avec d’autres fonctions, charges et occupations professionnelles sont prévues. Dans chaque groupe linguistique, les juges élisent un président en leur sein. Les deux présidents assument l’exercice de la présidence de la Cour à tour de rôle, pour une période d’un an débutant le 1er septembre de chaque année.

Pour plus d’informations, voy. les articles 31 à 34, 44 à 47 et 49 à 51 de la loi spéciale du 6 janvier 1989 sur la Cour constitutionnelle.

  • Joséphine Moerman

    President (female) (NL)

  • Yasmine Kherbache

    Judge (NL)

  • Danny Pieters

    Judge (NL)

  • Sabine de Bethune

    Judge (NL)

  • Willem Verrijdt

    Judge (NL)

  • Frank Fleerackers

    Judge (NL)

  • Pierre Nihoul

    President (FR)

  • Thierry Giet

    Judge (FR)

  • Michel Pâques

    Judge (FR)

  • Emmanuelle Bribosia

    Judge (FR)

  • Kattrin Jadin

    Judge (FR)

  • Magali Plovie

    Judge (FR)

Legal secretaries

The Court is assisted by legal secretaries

Half of the legal secretaries are Dutch-speakers and the other half are French-speakers. At least one French-speaking legal secretary and one Dutch-speaking legal secretary must have a sufficient knowledge of German.

Legal secretaries are magistrates with a university degree in law and must be at least 25 years old when they are selected. They are appointed by the Court on the basis of an open competition, the terms and conditions of which are determined by the Court. There can be 24 legal secretaries at most. From January 1st 2021 onwards there are 20 of them.

The Special Act does not explicitly define the tasks of the legal secretaries. They are called upon to assist the Court in all its functions. Their main task is to draft judgments in cases before the Court, under the supervision of the judge to whom they are attached. When a new question for a preliminary ruling or a new appeal comes before the Court, they carry out an initial examination of the new case and propose, where appropriate, the implementation of a short procedure. In other cases, they draw up draft judgments on the basis of which the judges will deliberate. They also assist the Court by drafting notes, amendments or “alternative” draft judgments. Legal secretaries do not take part in the deliberations. Finally, they also carry out tasks relating to the Court's documentation, internal functioning and external relations.

See articles 35 to 39, 44 to 47, 50 and 51 of the Special Act of 6 January 1989 on the Constitutional Court for further information.

Registrars

The Court has one French-speaking and one Dutch-speaking registrar. They are appointed by the King from two lists of two candidates each, presented respectively by the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking judges of the Court.

The registrars must have a university degree in law and must be at least 30 years of age and meet the requirements set out in article 41 of the Special Act of 6 January 1989.

The registrars assist the Court in the exercise of its jurisdictional function, at all stages of the procedure.

They see to the follow-up of the procedure in all cases, from the registration of these, through the notification of written proceedings and assistance at hearings, up to the co-signing of judgments, their notification and their publication.

They authenticate all official Court documents.

They assist the Court in its meetings, work and decision-making of an administrative nature. They take part in the various commissions and working groups organized within the Court.

Registrars are responsible for the general administrative coordination of administrative services and have authority over staff. They are directly in charge of the registry service.

Under the authority of the Court and its presidents, they manage the human, material and financial resources of the Court.

See articles 40 and 41, 44 to 46, 50, 51 and 61 of the Special Act of 6 January 1989 on the Constitutional Court for further information.

The administrative staff

The Court has its own administrative staff. It appoints and dismisses staff members.

In addition to the secretariats of the judges, the administrative staff is divided into a number of specialized departments:

  • the registry. Under the authority of the registrars, the registry receives procedural documents (appeals, preliminary questions, pleadings) and ensures that they are notified to the right persons;
  • the translation service. This service translates internal documents of the Court (in particular, draft judgments, documentary notes or internal reports) into French, Dutch and/or German. It also includes revisers, who ensure that judgments are proofread and checked for linguistic consistency before publication;
  • the BIB-DOCU service. This service manages the Court's library and documentation. The BIB-DOCU service is responsible for monitoring the relevant legal doctrine, purchasing books and electronic sources, and managing and developing various internal databases establishing links between case-law, doctrine and cases pending before the Court. The service assists the magistrates in the handling of cases and their documentary needs;
  • the data service. This service is responsible for the database relating to the Court's case law. This database systematizes the Court's case law in key words and summaries and is publicly accessible on the Court's website. The data service also ensures the publication of judgments on the Court's website;
  • the IT service. This service is responsible for the management, maintenance and development of the computer technology necessary for the functioning of the Court, including databases and the Court's website.

As of today, the administrative staff consists of approximately 50 members.

Emeriti and honorary members

President

  • André Alen

    President (NL)

  • Etienne De Groot

    President (NL)

  • Luc Lavrysen

    President (NL)

  • Jean Spreutels

    President (FR)

  • François Daoût

    President (FR)

Judge

  • Erik Derycke

    Judge (NL)

  • Trees Merckx-Van Goey

    Judge (NL)

  • Riet Leysen

    Judge (NL)

  • Jean-Paul Moerman

    Judge (FR)

  • Thierry Detienne

    Judge (FR)

Legal secretary

  • Luc Lavrysen

    Legal secretary (NL)

  • Riet Leysen

    Legal secretary (NL)

  • Willem Verrijdt

    Legal secretary (NL)

Registrar

History

President

  • Jan Delva

    President (NL)

    03.10.1984 - 27.01.1993

  • Louis De Grève

    President (NL)

    14.09.1993 - 16.10.1999

  • André Alen

    President (NL)

    09.01.2014 - 31.01.2016

  • Etienne De Groot

    President (NL)

    01.02.2016 - 16.02.2018

  • André Alen

    President (NL)

    17.02.2018 - 24.09.2020

  • Luc Lavrysen

    President (NL)

    25.09.2020 - 15.04.2026

  • Joséphine Moerman

    President (female) (NL)

    16.04.2026 -

  • Jean Spreutels

    President (FR)

    19.06.2013 - 31.08.2018

  • François Daoût

    President (FR)

    01.09.2018 - 14.09.2021

  • Pierre Nihoul

    President (FR)

    15.09.2021 -

Judge

  • Jan Delva

    Judge (NL)

    10.09.1984 - 02.10.1984

  • Karel Blanckaert

    Judge (NL)

    10.09.1984 - 31.08.1994

  • Louis De Grève

    Judge (NL)

    10.09.1984 - 13.09.1993

  • Louis-Paul Suetens

    Judge (NL)

    10.09.1984 - 02.09.1996

  • Willy Calewaert

    Judge (NL)

    10.09.1984 - 30.10.1986

  • Henri Coremans

    Judge (NL)

    10.12.1993 - 31.10.2000

  • Etienne De Groot

    Judge (NL)

    17.12.1999 - 31.01.2016

  • Luc Lavrysen

    Judge (NL)

    19.01.2001 - 24.09.2020

  • André Alen

    Judge (NL)

    16.03.2001 - 08.01.2014

  • Erik Derycke

    Judge (NL)

    05.09.2001 - 27.10.2019

  • Trees Merckx-Van Goey

    Judge (NL)

    17.12.2007 - 17.06.2021

  • Riet Leysen

    Judge (NL)

    23.01.2014 - 14.03.2022

  • André Alen

    Judge (NL)

    01.02.2016 - 16.02.2018

  • Joséphine Moerman

    Judge (NL)

    18.03.2018 - 15.04.2026

  • Yasmine Kherbache

    Judge (NL)

    10.12.2019 -

  • Danny Pieters

    Judge (NL)

    13.01.2021 -

  • Sabine de Bethune

    Judge (NL)

    22.06.2021 -

  • Willem Verrijdt

    Judge (NL)

    21.03.2022 -

  • Frank Fleerackers

    Judge (NL)

    16.04.2026 -

  • Jean-Paul Moerman

    Judge (FR)

    16.05.2001 - 13.08.2022

  • Jean Spreutels

    Judge (FR)

    25.04.2004 - 18.06.2013

  • Pierre Nihoul

    Judge (FR)

    18.04.2010 - 14.09.2021

  • François Daoût

    Judge (FR)

    10.01.2011 - 31.08.2018

  • Thierry Giet

    Judge (FR)

    21.06.2013 -

  • Michel Pâques

    Judge (FR)

    09.09.2018 -

  • Thierry Detienne

    Judge (FR)

    13.07.2020 - 31.07.2023

  • Emmanuelle Bribosia

    Judge (FR)

    08.11.2021 -

  • Kattrin Jadin

    Judge (FR)

    26.09.2022 -

  • Magali Plovie

    Judge (FR)

    30.08.2023 -

Registrar