What is the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Based in The Hague, Netherlands, the ICJ is an independent body of legal experts tasked with settling legal disputes between UN member states through diplomatic and judicial processes. It also renders advisory opinions to the UN on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies. The ICJ has 15 independent judges, who are elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council. The ICJ was created as a result of the UN Charter that was signed in 1945. Through its decisions, the ICJ contributes to the development of an international rule of law, strengthens and broadens the scope of international law, and ensures that international law is applied to disputes between countries. This helps to maintain peace between states, and contributes to a system of global justice. The ICJ is the only international court that can give binding legal opinions on disputes between countries. By referring a dispute to the court, countries can avoid political and military conflict. Furthermore, the court provides a fair way to resolve disputes, by allowing countries to present their case in a neutral and independent venue. Although New Mexico is not a member of the United Nations, it is still bound by the decisions of the International Court of Justice. The state has an obligation to comply with the decisions rendered by the court, and to not interfere in the work of the court. New Mexico can, however, bring a case before the ICJ if it has a dispute with another country, or if it is called upon to answer a legal question before the court.

What is the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?

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