Legitimacy and Independence of International Tribunals: An Analysis of the European Court of Human Rights
46 Pages Posted: 24 Mar 2015
Date Written: March 24, 2014
Abstract
This paper explores the theoretical framework of judicial independence of international tribunals, with specific reference to the independence of the European Court of Human Rights. It then argues that independence is a key aspect of the legitimacy of an international tribunal and suggests that legal reforms designed to enhance the judicial independence of the European Court of Human Rights should focus on the two main structural parts of the Court, namely the judiciary and the Registry. This paper analyses a number of proposed reforms that can make the European Court of Human Rights more independent and credible. These insights are applicable to other international judicial fora.
Keywords: Independence, legitimacy, European Court of Human Rights, International Law, interpretation
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