ICC Opens Search for Next Court President
Applications for the International Criminal Court presidency run from 2 November to 31 December 2026, with the successor to Claudia Salomon to be chosen by mid-2027.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
The International Criminal Court has launched a selection process for its next President, as current President Claudia Salomon completes her second and final term. Applications are accepted from 2 November to 31 December 2026.
Why it matters
The presidency leads the ICC as the court's membership is renewed for a new mandate beginning in July 2027. The process is designed to ensure a formal, criteria-based appointment for the court's top judicial role.
The application window runs 2 November to 31 December 2026, and the World Council must elect the next President by 30 June 2027. The selection committee is chaired by Justin D'Agostino and includes ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO, but no candidate pool has been disclosed.
The players
International Criminal Court (ICC)
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal based in The Hague that prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
Claudia Salomon
Claudia Salomon is the current President of the International Criminal Court, completing her second and final term.
Justin D'Agostino
Justin D'Agostino chairs the selection committee overseeing the election of the next ICC Court President.
John W.H. Denton AO
John W.H. Denton AO is the Secretary General of the International Criminal Court and a member of the selection committee.
The details
Eligible applications will be assessed against an approved profile and candidate criteria, then move through a formal shortlisting process followed by final interviews and deliberations. The selection committee will submit a reasoned recommendation to the ICC Executive Board's Nominations and Human Resources Committee.
Timeline
2 November 2026: Applications open for the ICC Court President post.
31 December 2026: Applications close.
Mid-March 2027: Selection committee expected to submit its recommendation.
Early April 2027: ICC Executive Board expected to consider the recommendation.
June 2027: ICC World Council expected to appoint the next President.
Market Landscape
The ICC's presidency is filled through its formal governance framework, with the World Council electing the President on the Court's renewal cycle, a structure that governs how the institution's leadership transitions. This cycle follows the same term-limited pattern that has shaped the Court's leadership since its founding under the Rome Statute.
For the international public, the selection of the ICC's next President shapes the institution that prosecutes genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The process is open to qualified applicants through 31 December 2026.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at the ICC follow a fixed, criteria-based process, so the identity of the next President will become clear only after the committee's recommendation and the World Council vote in mid-2027. Watch the official ICC announcements for the outcome.
What happens next
The selection committee is expected to submit its recommendation by mid-March 2027, with the ICC World Council expected to appoint the next President in June 2027.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our People section for leadership changes at major institutions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ICC - International Chamber of Commerce.
