The long-term chairman of the Constitutional Court, a brilliant lawyer Zorkin Valery Dmitrievich lived a long, busy life. His work had a significant impact on the formation of the judicial system in Russia.
Years of formation
February 18, 1943 in the family of a military man in the village of Konstantinovka, Primorsky Territory, a son was born - Zorkin Valery Dmitrievich. When he was still very young, his father was transferred to the capital, and, in fact, the future lawyer grew up as a Muscovite. The boy studied well and was able to go through the school curriculum in an accelerated way. After graduating from school, he goes to serve in the army, but he doesn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps, he wants to get a higher education, and because of his mentality he was more humanist than techie, there was little choice.
Study and scientific career
Zorkin Valery Dmitrievich (whose biography has always been associated with jurisprudence), having served in the army, makes his main choice and goes to Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov at the Faculty of Law. And in 1964 he received a diploma in law. He also studied very well at the university, which allowed him to stay working at alma mater.
Since 1964, Zorkin, Valery Dmitrievich has been teaching at Moscow State University, his scientific theme is the history of legal teachings, in particular, early Christian and Renaissance times. In 1967 he defended his thesis for the title of candidate of legal sciences, the theme of the work was “B.N. Chicherin on the state and law ”, becomes an assistant professor and continues to teach. At this time, he was very interested in the legal aspects of the philosophy of the Italian Renaissance thinker Niccolo Machiavelli. Zorkin worked at Moscow State University until 1977.
In 1976, he tries to defend his doctoral dissertation on the topic “The Positivist Theory of Law in Russia,” but he lacks one vote in the dissertation council of Moscow State University, and does not receive the academic title of Zorkin. This was the reason that he leaves the university and goes to work at the Institute of State and Law, where in 1978 he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation. From 1979 to 1986, Valery Dmitrievich worked at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR as a professor in the department of constitutional law and the theory of state and law. Only then does he gain his main vital interest - constitutional law. In 1986, he transferred to work at the Higher Correspondence School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, where he worked for 4 years.
Work on the Constitution of the Russian Federation
In 1990, Zorkin Valery Dmitrievich, whose full biography is connected with constitutional law, became an expert of the Constitutional Commission at the Congress of People's Deputies, which worked on a new text of the main law of the Russian Federation. This work helped Zorkin to plunge deeper into the legal features of the implementation of this law and was the start for his main activity in life. At this time, Valery Dmitrievich proved himself as a principled lawyer and an active supporter of the presidential republic.
In 1991, during a coup, Zorkin, together with colleagues from the constitutional commission, signed a document stating that the activities of the State Emergency Committee, from the point of view of the law, were an attempted coup. This statement was voiced in the Western media and became a significant help in the subsequent career advancement of Zorkin.
Matter of life: Zorkin Valery Dmitrievich - Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation
Supporting Boris Yeltsin’s course and working as an expert in a group to create a draft Constitution helped him get a new appointment. Since October 29, 1991 Zorkin Valery Dmitrievich - judge of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation. And already on the first of November he is elected President of the Constitutional Court for an unlimited term. Having headed the constitutional branch of power, Zorkin began work on reforming the court and consistently upheld the construction of the rule of law in Russia. Throughout the years of working in the Constitutional Court, he was an active supporter of the idea of ​​separation of powers and a defender of the constitutional order in Russia. In 1993, he played a significant role in resolving the crisis of power, taking the side of parliament and urging the president to solve problems only in accordance with the country's main law. Zorkin stood between Khasbulatov and Yeltsin. It was thanks to his active participation that the conflict between the president and the congress of people's deputies was overcome and a compromise was found. This event had global implications in the country's governance: Yegor Gaidar was removed from his post, and the government was headed by Viktor Chernomyrdin.
The conflict with Boris Yeltsin became the reason that Zorkin Valery Dmitrievich resigned in 1993 as chairman of the Constitutional Court, but after a few months he returned to the court. However, for a long time he was accused of partiality and excessive support of the parliament. These accusations ended when, in 1993, the Constitutional Court immediately canceled 27 orders of the head of parliament. Zorkin tried to maintain the independence of the court and establish the rule of law.
For several years, Zorkin worked as an ordinary judge, without attracting much public attention to his actions. In 2003, by secret ballot, he was re-elected as chairman of the Constitutional Court. Later, he was elected several times to this position. This time, Zorkin did not change the course of the court adopted in recent years, but became the cause of the confrontation between the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, putting into practice the position of the government. Zorkin repeatedly appears on the pages of the media, makes loud statements, remaining a significant figure in Russian politics. In 2012, Zorkin Valery Dmitrievich for the fifth time became chairman of the Constitutional Court.
Social Activities and Citizenship
According to Soviet tradition, Zorkin joined the CPSU back in 1970 and continued to sympathize with the communist idea for many years. But as a party activist, he did not show himself. In 1990, Valery Dmitrievich, under the influence of public processes, decided to run for deputy, but in the first round he became the third and in the second round gave his votes to another candidate.
His views have always been on the side of the Constitution, but at the same time throughout his life he hesitated more than once and supported either the parliament or the president. Since 2003, his position has become more defined, he has become an active supporter of the presidential course.
As a public figure, Zorkin often makes various statements, in particular, gives a legal assessment of various historical events, for example, the abolition of serfdom in Russia, and comments on events in the country and the world.
Achievements and rewards
For his active work, Zorkin repeatedly received government and other awards. He has 2 orders of Merit for the Fatherland and the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Valery Dmitrievich Zorkin, whose biography, awards and fame testify to his extraordinary nature, continues to work productively, and considers his main achievement to maintain the predominant role of the Constitution in governing the country.
Private life
Zorkin Valery Dmitrievich, whose family almost always remains in the shadows, a widower. His wife Tamara Vasilievna was a candidate of economic sciences, he has a daughter Natalya, who, like her father, became a lawyer.