Jacques Vergès

Jacques Vergès, born on March 5, 1925, in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, is a prominent French attorney known for his controversial career spanning several decades. He initially gained recognition in the 1950s as an anticolonialist communist activist and later became renowned for representing a diverse array of high-profile clients, ranging from militants to war criminals. His early legal work included defending Djamila Bouhired, an Algerian revolutionary and his future wife, from 1957 to 1962. Over the years, he has represented a number of infamous figures, including the former Khmer Rouge leader Khieu Samphan in 2008, Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie in 1987, and the notorious international terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, also known as Carlos the Jackal, in 1994.

Vergès’ legal practice has attracted significant media attention, earning him the moniker "the Devil's Advocate." He has cultivated this provocative image through his autobiography, titled *The Brilliant Bastard*, and his outspoken remarks in interviews. Notably, in 2002, he offered to defend former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević, who ultimately declined his legal assistance. His bold statements often blur the lines of morality and ethics, exemplified by his infamous claim that he would represent anyone, even Adolf Hitler, if given the chance—adding that he would also defend George W. Bush, provided he agreed to plead guilty.