He is mostly remembered for being one of the writers of the Colombian Constitution of 1991, for running three times for the presidency, without success, and for his murder at the hands of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

His thesis was entitled Influencias del Estoicismo en el Derecho Romano ("The Influence of Stoicism in Roman Law").

He ran (unsuccessfully) as its candidate for president three times: in 1974 against Alfonso López Michelsen, in 1986 against Virgilio Barco and in 1990 against César Gaviria.

[2] Álvaro Gómez was murdered by gunmen on November 2, 1995, in Bogotá, while leaving the Sergio Arboleda University, where he was a Visiting Professor.

[4] However the family of Gómez Hurtado pointed out that it is a strategy to divert the attention away from the 25-year long and ongoing investigation that has been collecting evidence that might incriminate former president Ernesto Samper Pizano (1994-1998).

Gómez Hurtado was denouncing the financing of the former president Ernesto Samper's campaign by drug cartels, and they believe that the evidence shows that it was a state crime.