The International Court of Justice, sometimes known as the World Court, is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN). It settles disputes between states in accordance with international law and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues. The ICJ is the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between countries, with its rulings and opinions serving as primary sources of international law.
Hisashi Owada is a former Japanese jurist, diplomat and law professor, and served as a judge on the International Court of Justice from 2003 until June 7, 2018, and was President of the Court from 2009 to 2012. He is the father-in-law of the incumbent Emperor of Japan, Naruhito.
Peter Tomka is a Slovak judge of the International Court of Justice. Prior to his election to the ICJ in 2003, Tomka was a Slovak diplomat.
Dame Rosalyn C. Higgins, Lady Higgins, is a British former President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). She was the first female judge elected to the ICJ, and was elected president in 2006. Her term of office expired on 6 February 2009. She was succeeded as president by Judge Hisashi Owada, and Sir Christopher Greenwood was elected in her place as Judge in the International Court of Justice.
Sir Christopher John Greenwood is Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge and a former British judge at the International Court of Justice. Prior to his election, he was professor of international law at the London School of Economics and a barrister who regularly appeared as counsel before the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, the English courts, and other tribunals.
Stephen Myron Schwebel, is an American jurist, counsel and independent arbitrator. He serves as Judge of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal and as a member of the U.S. national group at the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Previously, he served as President of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal (2010–2017), as President of the International Monetary Fund Administrative Tribunal (1993–2010), as President of the International Court of Justice (1997–2000), as Vice President of the International Court of Justice (1994–1997) and as Judge of the International Court of Justice (1981–2000). Prior to his tenure on the World Court, Judge Schwebel served as Deputy Legal Adviser to the U.S. Department of State (1974–1981) and as Assistant Legal Adviser to the U.S. Dept. of State (1961–1967). He also served as a professor of law at Harvard Law School (1959–1961) and Johns Hopkins University (1967–1981). Judge Schwebel is noted for his expansive opinions in momentous cases such as Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua and Oil Platforms .
United Nations Security Council Resolution 570, adopted unanimously on 12 September 1985, after noting the death of International Court of Justice (ICJ) Judge Platon D. Morozov, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 9 December 1985 at the Security Council and at the General Assembly's 40th session.
United Nations Security Council resolution 627, adopted unanimously on 9 January 1989, after noting the death of International Court of Justice (ICJ) President Nagendra Singh on 11 December 1988, the council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 18 April 1989 at the Security Council and at the General Assembly's 43rd session.
United Nations Security Council resolution 708, adopted unanimously on 28 August 1991, after noting the death of International Court of Justice (ICJ) President Taslim Olawale Elias on 14 August 1991, the council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 5 December 1991 at the Security Council and at the General Assembly's 46th session.
United Nations Security Council resolution 805, adopted unanimously on 4 February 1993, after noting the death of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge Manfred Lachs on 14 January 1993, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 10 May 1993 at the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly during its 47th session.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1914, adopted unanimously on 18 March 2010, after noting the resignation of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge Shi Jiuyong and that the vacancy must be filled in accordance with the Statute of the ICJ, the Council decided that the election to fill the vacancy would take place on 29 June 2010 at a meeting of the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly at its 64th session.
United Nations Security Council resolution 951, adopted without a vote on 21 October 1994, after noting the death of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge Nikolai Konstantinovitch Tarassov on 28 September 1994, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 26 January 1995 at the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly during its 49th session.
United Nations Security Council resolution 979, adopted without a vote on 9 March 1995, after noting the death of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge Roberto Ago on 24 February 1995, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 21 June 1995 at the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly during its 49th session.
United Nations Security Council resolution 980, adopted without a vote on 22 March 1995, after noting the resignation of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge Sir Robert Yewdall Jennings which would take effect on 10 July 1995, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 12 July 1995 at the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly during its 49th session.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1018, adopted unanimously on 7 November 1995, after noting the death of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge Andrés Aguilar-Mawdsley on 24 October 1995, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 28 February 1996 at the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly during its 50th session.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1926, adopted unanimously on June 2, 2010, after noting the resignation of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge Thomas Buergenthal with effect from September 6, 2010. The Council decided that the election to fill the vacancy would take place on September 9, 2010 at a meeting of the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1361, adopted without a vote on 5 July 2001, after noting the resignation of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge Mohammed Bedjaoui taking effect on 30 September 2001, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 12 October 2001 at the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly during its 56th session.
Joan E. Donoghue is an American jurist, and a Judge on the International Court of Justice. She was elected to that post in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. She has two sons, Adam and Casey Shamma.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1571, adopted without a vote on 4 November 2004, after noting the resignation of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge Gilbert Guillaume taking effect on 11 February 2005, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 15 February 2005 at the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly during its 59th session.
The 2011 International Court of Justice election began on 10 November 2011 at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. In the set of triennial elections, the General Assembly and the Security Council concurrently elect five judges to the Court for nine-year terms, in this case beginning on 6 February 2012. From the eight candidates, the five winners were Giorgio Gaja (Italy), Hisashi Owada (Japan), Peter Tomka (Slovakia), Xue Hanqin (China) and Julia Sebutinde (Uganda).
