International Court of Justice (ICF)

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Please see updated response below (original version attached). I hope this helps and take care.

UPDATED RESPONSE: February 2, 2009

1. Is the International Court of Justice the first world court?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) (1946) was a reorganization of the Permanent Court of International Justice (1921) (first referred to as the World Court). In other words, it was a reorganization of the first world court (Permanent Court of International Justice, 1921), but was NOT the first world court, per se. However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is also based at The Hague (Netherlands), has always been known semi-officially and in popular parlance as the "World Court." Interestingly, U.S. is not part of the World Court (President Bush's decision). In fact, "George W. Bush drew fire from law and order advocates when in 2002 he "unsigned" (that is withdrew America from) the Treaty of Rome of 1998 that created an international criminal court" (Meyer, 2003, http://hnn.us/articles/1465.html, February 2, 2009).

From the ICF website:

"The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one NOT located in New York (United States of America). The Court's role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French" (http://www.icj-cij.org/court/index.php?p1=1, February, 2, 2009).

Background (excerpt)

The Permanent Court of International Justice, commonly known as the World Court, was first proposed during discussions involving the Treaty of Versailles as an effective replacement for the ineffective Hague Tribunal. Article 14 of the Covenant of the League of Nations instructed the leadership of the league to design a Permanent Court of International Justice "competent to hear and determine any dispute of an international character which the parties thereto ...