UN Prepares to Elect Five ICJ Judges
Nine candidates, including two African legal experts, are vying for five seats on the International Court of Justice.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Law
The United Nations is preparing to elect five judges to the International Court of Justice, filling seats on the 15-member court. Candidates include Kenya's Phoebe Okowa and Sierra Leone's Charles Chernor Jalloh, among nine in total.
Why it matters
The election determines who will sit on the principal judicial organ of the United Nations for nine-year terms starting February 6, 2027. The result will shape the court's composition as it resolves disputes between states.
Successful candidates must win an absolute majority in both bodies, requiring at least eight Security Council votes out of 15 and 97 General Assembly votes out of 193. Whether the two bodies will select the same candidates remains unresolved.
The players
International Court of Justice
The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, settling legal disputes between states and issuing advisory opinions.
United Nations
The UN is the intergovernmental organization that oversees the election of ICJ judges through its Security Council and General Assembly.
Phoebe Okowa
Okowa is a Kenyan legal expert who joined the ICJ in November 2025 and is seeking election to a full term.
Charles Chernor Jalloh
Jalloh is a Sierra Leonean legal scholar and former prosecutor who is among the nine candidates for the ICJ.
The details
Nine candidates are seeking five seats, and Nigeria's Taoheed Olufemi Elias has withdrawn. Okowa joined the court in November 2025 after Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf resigned and her current appointment runs until February 2027.
Timeline
November 2025: Phoebe Okowa joined the ICJ after Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf resigned.
February 2027: Okowa's current appointment ends.
February 6, 2027: Newly elected judges begin nine-year terms.
Legal Context
The election follows the ICJ Statute's dual-body voting requirement, under which candidates need absolute majorities in both the Security Council and General Assembly. Further voting or a special conference is required if the two bodies choose different candidates.
The outcome determines which judges will decide disputes between nations for nine years from February 2027. Readers following international law can track the vote results as the Security Council and General Assembly report them.
The takeaway
The composition of the International Court of Justice shapes how international disputes are resolved for years to come. Watching the dual-body vote shows how the UN balances the interests of its Security Council and General Assembly.
What happens next
The Security Council and General Assembly will hold separate votes to fill the five seats, with a possible special conference if vacancies remain.
Further reading
For broader background, see our Law coverage of international judicial institutions.
