Jacob Kohnstamm
Jacob Kohnstamm is a retired Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 party and jurist.
Kohnstamm attended a Gymnasium in The Hague from April 1962 until May 1968 and applied at the University of Amsterdam in June 1971 majoring in Law and obtaining an Bachelor of Laws degree in June 1973 and worked as a student researcher before graduating with an Master of Laws degree in July 1977. Kohnstamm worked as a criminal defense lawyer in Amsterdam from October 1977 until June 1981.
Kohnstamm was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1981, taking office on 10 June 1981 serving as a backbencher. After the election of 1982 Kohnstamm wasn't reelected and he continued to serve until the end of the parliamentary term on 16 September 1982. Kohnstamm again worked as a criminal defense lawyer in Amsterdam from September 1982 until June 1986. Kohnstamm served as Chairman of the Democrats 66 from 30 October 1982 until 20 May 1986. After the election of 1986 Kohnstamm returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 3 June 1986 serving as a frontbencher chairing the :nl:Tweede Kamercommissie|parliamentary committee for Law enforcement and :nl:Tweede Kamercommissie|parliamentary committee for the Ombudsman and spokesperson for the Interior, Justice, Law enforcement, Health, Civil Service and Abortion and deputy spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and the Benelux Union. After the election of 1994 Kohnstamm was appointed as State Secretary for the Interior in the Cabinet Kok I, taking office on 22 August 1994. In December 1997 Kohnstamm announced that he wouldn't stand for the election of 1998. Following the cabinet formation of 1998 Kohnstamm per his own request asked not to be considered for a cabinet post in the new cabinet, the Cabinet Kok I was replaced by the Cabinet Kok II on 3 August 1998.
Kohnstamm remained in active in national politics, he was elected as a Member of the Senate after the Senate election of 1999, taking office on 8 June 1999 serving as a frontbencher and chairing the :nl:Eerste Kamercommissie|special parliamentary committee for the European Court of Justice and spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Justice, Health, European Affairs, NATO and the Benelux Union.Decorations
