New composition of ICC judicial divisions
At their 14th plenary meeting held on 13 March 2008, the judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided on their assignment to the Pre-Trial, Trial and Appeals Divisions of the Court, in accordance with rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
The composition of these divisions is now as follows:
The judges assigned to the Pre-Trial Division are: Judge Hans-Peter Kaul (Germany), Second Vice-President of the Court; Judge Sylvia Steiner (Brazil); Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova (Bulgaria); Judge Fumiko Saiga (Japan); Judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng (Botswana); and Judge Cuno Tarfusser (Italy).
The judges assigned to the Trial Division are: Judge Fatoumata Dembele Diarra (Mali), First Vice-President of the Court; Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito (Costa Rica); Judge René Blattmann (Bolivia); Judge Sir Adrian Fulford (United Kingdom); Judge Bruno Cotte (France); Judge Joyce Aluoch (Kenya); and Judge Christine Van den Wyngaert (Belgium).
The judges assigned to the Appeals Division are: Judge Sang-Hyun Song (Republic of Korea), President of the Court; Judge Akua Kuenyehia (Ghana); Judge Erkki Kourula (Finland); Judge Anita Ušacka (Latvia); and Judge Daniel David Ntanda Nsereko (Uganda).
Assignment of judges to the various divisions is made on the basis of the nature of the functions each one will perform and the qualifications and experience of the judge. This is done in a manner ensuring that each division benefits from an appropriate combination of expertise in criminal law and procedure, and international law.
In accordance with article 39 (3) of the Rome Statute, judges assigned to the Pre-Trial and Trial Divisions will serve for a period of three years, this is until 10 March 2012, and thereafter until the completion of any case the hearing of which would already have commenced in the division concerned. Judges assigned to the Appeals Division shall serve in that division for their entire term of office.
It should be noted that Judge René Blattmann (Bolivia) who, upon his election in February 2003, was selected by lot to serve for a term of six years, will continue in office to complete the trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo before Trial Chamber I, in accordance with article 36 (10) of the Rome Statute.
For further information please contact Ms Laurence Blairon, Spokesperson, at +31 (0)70 515 87 14 or +31 (0) 6 46 44 88 89 or at [email protected]