Abstract
On March 9, 2018, the highest officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and representatives of the international community assembled at the seat of the Court to welcome six newly elected judges and to bid farewell to the six who had concluded their term of office, including myself. In my then-capacity as President, I presided over their swearing-in ceremony, which, in accordance with the Rome Statute, must take place in open court. In my opening remarks, I emphasized that this ceremony, which takes place every three years, was an important moment for the institution. Six new judges were solemnly undertaking to exercise their respective functions impartially and conscientiously, something that embodies both individual and collective responsibilities. “Through renewal,” I said, “the institution ensures its continuity.”
Highlights
On March 9, 2018, the highest officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and representatives of the international community assembled at the seat of the Court to welcome six newly elected judges and to bid farewell to the six who had concluded their term of office, including myself
While the injection of new people and ideas was always welcomed, the replacement of a third of the bench posed a formidable challenge to efforts to increase efficiency and judicial cohesion at the Court
While both efficiency and judicial cohesion are essential for any jurisdiction, they are difficult to achieve in a multicultural environment like the one prevailing at the Court, which, in addition to representing all regions, seeks to combine the different legal systems and traditions of the world
Summary
On March 9, 2018, the highest officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and representatives of the international community assembled at the seat of the Court to welcome six newly elected judges and to bid farewell to the six who had concluded their term of office, including myself. I emphasized that this ceremony, which takes place every three years, was an important moment for the institution. While the injection of new people and ideas was always welcomed, the replacement of a third of the bench posed a formidable challenge to efforts to increase efficiency and judicial cohesion at the Court. While both efficiency and judicial cohesion are essential for any jurisdiction, they are difficult to achieve in a multicultural environment like the one prevailing at the Court, which, in addition to representing all regions, seeks to combine the different legal systems and traditions of the world. One can only wonder whether the current selection practices are sufficient to that end
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