The Administration of International Law in National Courts and the Legitimacy of International Law

Abstract

Increasingly, national courts find themselves called upon to determine matters where un lex specialis; regional supranational law; customary international law and domestic law all appear relevant. Lower court judges may be challenged significantly because such matters often lie beyond their day-to-day practice of interpreting and applying national law to local legal issues. This article recommends that to ensure both justice and legitimacy of international law, national courts − especially lower courts, should a priori consider whether the matters before them would be best served by appointing an expert academician ‘friend of the court’ to illuminate the contested applicable international law.