International Court of Justice

Abstract

The International Court of Justice and the Court of Justice of the European Community¹ comprise the two major permanent judicial institutions of the international community of nations. The International Court has evolved from antecedents, some of which, pre-date the Hague Tribunals established at the turn of this century. The European Court, because of its venue, is an illustration of the vital changes which have occurred in the evolution of the law of nations since the second World War. In a sense, the European Court is a “transnational court” rather than an “international court.” The Charter of the Organization of Central American States makes provisions for a Central American Court of Justice, however, this Court is not a fixed tribunal, but is a roster of judges compiled by the member nations from which a court is selected to hear cases that may come before it. The judges of the Central American Court have not been accorded specified privileges and immunities by the treaty law pertaining to it, and, therefore, is not considered in this chapter.