Define: International Court Of Justice

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN) and is responsible for settling legal disputes between member states.

The ICJ is the only international court that has a general jurisdiction and can hear cases between states on any legal issue. Other international courts, such as the International Criminal Court, have limited jurisdiction and focus on specific crimes.

The judges of the ICJ are elected by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. They serve a term of nine years and can be re-elected.

No, the ICJ only has jurisdiction over cases between states. Individuals or non-state entities cannot directly bring cases before the court. However, states can bring cases on behalf of their nationals or entities.

The ICJ hears cases related to international law, including disputes over territorial boundaries, treaty interpretation, state responsibility, and human rights violations.

ICJ judgments are binding on the parties involved, but the court does not have its own enforcement mechanism. It relies on the cooperation of the states involved to comply with its decisions.

Yes, the ICJ can hear cases involving non-UN member states if both parties agree to its jurisdiction. However, the court’s jurisdiction is primarily based on the consent of the states involved.

The length of time for the ICJ to reach a decision varies depending on the complexity of the case. It can take several months or even years for the court to issue a final judgment.

The ICJ does not have a formal mechanism to overrule its own previous decisions. However, it can interpret and clarify its previous judgments in subsequent cases.

There is no formal appeal process for ICJ judgments. However, if a state believes that there has been a fundamental error in the judgment, it can request the court to revise its decision within a certain timeframe.