Judicial Independence in the Hague and Freetown: A Tale of Two Cities
Leiden Journal of International Law, Vol. 21, pp. 113-129, 2008
Posted: 27 Feb 2008
Abstract
This note evaluates the application of rules on judicial independence and impartiality in two international decisions issued in 2004 - the ICJ Order on Composition in the Wall Advisory Proceedings and the disqualification decision of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in Sesay - and compares them with a code of judicial conduct recently prepared by an ILA study group (the Burgh House Principles on the Independence of the International Judiciary). We assert that the approach taken by the ICJ in Wall is excessively restrictive and is out of step with contemporary tendencies to embrace stricter standards of judicial independence and impartiality.
Keywords: disqualification of judges, International Court of Justice, judicial impartiality, judicial independence, mixed international criminal tribunals, Special Court for Sierra Leone, Wall Advisory Opinion
JEL Classification: K33
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation