Celebrating a fruitful life as a lawyer and a music enthusiast, Dr Norbert Gross, a founding member of the local Eurojuris chapter, received the rare honour of Germany's only Federal medal, in gratitude for both his contribution to the highest Civil Court and for his volunteering in the world of classical music.
Contrary to other nations that have a wide array of medals with which to honour their citizens, Germany has only one national award. This also explains why this unique Order is divided in as many as eight levels. Now a Grand Cross of the Federal Order of Merit, Mr Norbert Gross (EJ Germany) is a recipient of the sixth level. « It makes it more than a medal », another German lawyer explains, « it's the equivalent of the Queen of England giving the title of Esquire ! If we had a monarch here, that's what it would be ».
Nevertheless, Mr Gross maintains a humble position towards his new title. When asked where the Cross is now, he answers with a laugh, « In my cupboard ! I will only wear the small badge sometimes ». As far as he is aware, he is the first lawyer or magistrate to receive the medal in a decade. It celebrates a longstanding career as a civil law attorney to the Cassation Court in the German city of Karslruhe, where he still lives. Seat of both the German constitutional court and the Cassation Court, it is little to say that Karlsruhe is a city of juridic traditions. Although the medal is customarily awarded by the German President himself, Mr Gross received it from the hands of the First President of the Civil Chamber of the Cassation Court, a man he knows well after years of practice in the city.
Mr Gross' expertise in the highest German jurisdiction proved valuable abroad as well. Amongst others, he presided an European-wide association of Supreme Court lawyers, and worked for an association of Comparative Law in Paris. With such a background, it is not surprising that he became a part of Eurojuris. « We founded EJ Germany with another lawyer, Mr Geiben, from Saar », Mr Gross explains. « He became the founding president. Accompanying the whole process of creating Eurojuris Germany was very exciting. And I can tell you something : we were facing the same problems and found the same solutions that I hear today in Eurojuris at a European level ! »
But a fruitful career as a lawyer alone is not enough to receive the Order. Mr Gross also owes it to is other passion : music. It’s a lifelong interest of his which he displayed through volunteering at the Baden-Baden Festival. « It is one of the three biggest classical music events in the German-speaking world, alongside Bayreuth and Salzburg », he explains. «But unlike to these two, it doesn't receive public funds ».
Mr Gross is still a member of the festival's curatorium. Another of his activities was with an association for the promotion of classical music, where he helped to organise concerts and promote young performers. « I remember for example Sergei Katchetrian, a violinist ; we met him as a beginner and he is now one of the most sought after musicians in Europe ». Mr Gross counts the likes of modern composer Wolfgang Rihm and the famous Pierre Boulez amongst his personal acquaintances. « They both live in the region », he says. « I love Rihm's work. My tastes range from modern to ancient, I am also fond of Monteverdi ». Asked about his own musical skills, Mr Gross answers : « I play some violin and viola, but as an amateur ! » - a final display of modesty from a Grand Cross.
