Nicaragua Before The International Court Of Justice

This book analyses Nicaragua's role in the development of international law, through its participation in cases that have come before the International Court of Justice. Nicaragua has appeared before the ICJ in fourteen cases, either as an applicant, respondent or intervening State, thus setting an important example of committment to the peaceful judicial settlement of disputes. The “Nicaraguan” cases have enabled the ICJ to take positions on and clarify a whole range of important procedural, jurisdictional and substantive legal issues, which have inspired the jurisprudence of international and regional courts and tribunals and influenced the development of international law. The book focuses on reviewing Nicaragua's cases before the ICJ, using a thematic approach to identify their impact on international law. Each chapter includes a discussion of the relevant cases on a particular theme and their impact over time on general as well as specific branches of international law, notably through their use as precedent by other international and regional courts and tribunals.

In approaching the writing of Intervention in the International Court of Justice, the author soon reached two conclusions. The first was that in order to understand the attitude of the Court today in applying the provisions of Articles 62 and 63 of the Statute, considerable importance attaches to their legislative history. In the Barcelona Traction (Preliminary Objections) case the Court referred to the `drafting records' of certain provisions of the Rules of Court under consideration there. The second conclusion was that examination of the decisions of the Court in intervention proceedings incidentally and in isolation from the case as a whole could put the material out of focus. The Court's position in a case of intervention can only be fully assessed in the context of the proceedings as a whole, when the real influence of the intervention phase on the final decision comes into the open. In addition, a new dimension, that of modern diplomacy, could be added to an understanding of the difficulties posed - for the Court, for individual States and for their legal advisers - by the institution of intervention. The book is based on a series of courses given by the author as Belle van Zuylen Professor in the Humanities at the University of Utrecht in 1986--1987. Nicaragua's intervention in the `Land, Island and Maritime Frontier Dispute' case between El Salvador and Honduras before a Chamber of the International Court led to a complete reexamination of the whole work, and to this current publication.

Some recent contentious issues about the use of evidence in cases before the International Court of Justice have highlighted the importance of fact-finding and the use of evidence before this Court. This major study on the issue of evidence before the International Court of Justice has examined all aspects of the Court's relationship with facts - in both contentious and advisory proceedings - from the recently refined procedure for submitting late evidence, to the hearing of live witness testimony in the Peace Palace. Considerations of flexibility and respect for the sovereignty of the State Parties before the Court have traditionally deterred the Court from constructing concrete rules on matters of evidence, but the increasing numbers of cases, in which a thorough consideration of the facts has been essential, has highlighted that some detailed procedural guidance is necessary in order to ensure a well-functioning system of adjudication. It is apparent that the Court has paid an increasing amount of attention to its evidentiary proceedings as a result, often encountering difficulties in the inherent tensions between the common and civil law traditions and thus a divergence of opinions on the Bench. This book examines the history and development of the treatment of evidence, including the early days of the Permanent Court of International Justice - the predecessor of the International Court of Justice - up to the recent Nicaragua v Honduras judgment, critically analyzing the Statute and Rules of the Court, dicta from judgments and separate and dissenting opinions, the newly developed Practice Directions, and academic writings on the subject. The book not only provides an academic discussion of the subject, but also acts as a guide to practitioners appearing before the Court.

This book provides an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of Latin American cases brought before the International Court of Justice, demonstrating state practices and litigation at the international level. It does so by providing summaries of all contentious cases submitted by or against Latin American states before the Court in order to illustrate case law, and is organized according to specific subjects to highlight the contribution of Latin American states to the peaceful settlement of disputes and to international law in general. Furthermore, the book is enhanced by informative tables and graphs detailing the participation of Latin American states and judges in cases presented before the International Court of Justice, and includes a general and specific bibliography devoted to all the cases evaluated. The chapters presented here fill existing gaps in the literature and will be of use to an international audience, including academic libraries, the judiciary (both national and international), practitioners of international law, government institutions, academics, and students alike. It will also be of interest to anyone investigating international dispute resolution, particularly Latin American academics and practitioners.

The International Court of Justice and the Effectiveness of International Law, by Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the ICJ, offers an account of the history and main achievements of the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the only court with universal and general jurisdiction.