JUDr. Jiří Mucha (*1946) graduated from the Charles Law Faculty and was awarded his doctorate of law in international law (both in 1969). During his studies he also completed two study courses in comparative law at the International Faculty for the Study of Comparative Law in Montreal and Strasbourg. After two years as an articling lawyer, in 1973–93 he worked as an advocate in Prague, primarily in the field of international law, and represented clients in cases with an international element. In 1993 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe („CofE“) elected him a Member of its European Commission of Human Rights, where until 1998 he dealt with accusations that CofE Member States had violated the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. In June, 1998 he entered the diplomatic service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, until November 2002, was Czech Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the CofE. In 2001 and 2002 he held the post of Chairman of the Group of Rapporteurs for Legal Co-operation at the Committee of Ministers of the CofE, and took part in the drafting of a number of CofE international conventions. On 28 January 2003 President Václav Havel appointed him a Justice of the Constitutional Court.