The International Court of Justice
How the world's highest court resolves disputes between states and issues advisory opinions that shape international law.
The World Court
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Established in 1945, it is the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice created after World War I. The ICJ has 15 judges elected for nine-year terms by the General Assembly and Security Council simultaneously. By convention, the P5 always have a judge on the bench, and geographic representation is maintained across regions.
The Court has two types of jurisdiction. In contentious cases, it settles legal disputes between states. Only states can be parties; individuals, corporations, and international organizations cannot bring cases. Jurisdiction requires consent: a state can accept ICJ jurisdiction generally (through an 'optional clause' declaration) or agree to it for a specific case. In advisory proceedings, UN organs and specialized agencies can request the Court's opinion on legal questions. Advisory opinions are technically non-binding but carry enormous legal and moral weight.
