The International Court of Justice, which sits in The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It resolves international legal disputes between states, and also gives advisory opinions on international legal matters referred to it by UN organs and agencies. The ICJ is generally composed of 15 judges of different nationalities who serve for 9-year terms. However, when none of these 15 judges has the nationality of a state party to a case before the Court, a judge ad hoc may be appointed by that state to sit in that particular case. The judge ad hoc then “participate[s] in the case ... on terms of complete equality with the other judges”.
Professor Currie’s appointment pertains to the case concerning Alleged Violations of State Immunities (Islamic Republic of Iran v Canada), in which Iran alleges violations by Canada of Iran’s jurisdictional immunity and immunity from measures of constraint under customary international law.
Professor John Currie Named to International Court of Justice
Professor Emeritus John Currie has been appointed a judge ad hoc of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with effect from January 2025.