UN Elects Five New Judges to International Court of Justice

The United Nations has chosen five new jurists to join the International Court of Justice for nine-year terms. This selection process takes place as the tribunal manages a historically high volume of active legal matters, which features South Africa's legal accusation against Israel concerning the conflict in Gaza.

The selection procedure occurred on Tuesday at the main United Nations headquarters. Securing a position required candidates to achieve an absolute majority across both the General Assembly and the Security Council through simultaneous secret ballots.

The successful candidates appointed to the fifteen-seat bench are Dapo Akande representing the United Kingdom, Francois Alabrune representing France, Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud representing Jordan, Rena Lee representing Singapore, and Phoebe Okowa representing Kenya.

International Court of Justice Judges Chosen

Initially, the two primary United Nations entities agreed on four candidates but remained divided on the final vacancy. The Security Council supported Marcelo Vazquez-Bermudez from Ecuador, whereas the General Assembly favored Okowa, leading to additional voting rounds. Eventually, Vazquez-Bermudez exited the contest, allowing Okowa to secure the necessary majority from both bodies.

Five new judges joined the International Court of Justice for nine-year terms during a record caseload.

The judicial body is located in The Hague and consists of fifteen members, each coming from a different country. Members serve terms lasting nine years with eligibility for re-election. To maintain operational continuity, one-third of the panel stands for election every three years.

This election coincides with a period of exceptionally high workload for the tribunal. Court President Yuji Iwasawa informed the General Assembly that twenty-four contentious lawsuits are currently pending, addressing territorial disputes, human rights concerns, and the interpretation of international agreements.

Among these active proceedings is the case brought by South Africa claiming violations of the Genocide Convention during military actions in Gaza. While the tribunal has previously mandated provisional measures, it has not yet delivered a definitive verdict regarding whether genocide took place. Additionally, the court issued an advisory opinion outlining obligations toward the United Nations and humanitarian organizations in Palestinian territories, and scheduled a judgment regarding Gambia's genocide accusation against Myanmar concerning the Rohingya minority.

Established in 1945 as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the institution resolves legal disputes between sovereign states and issues advisory opinions on international law questions.

Why it matters

The completion of these judicial elections ensures the continued operational capacity of the principal United Nations tribunal as it navigates a historic volume of complex international legal disputes. Filling the final vacancy required multiple voting rounds before consensus was reached between the General Assembly and the Security Council.