ICC judicial elections 2023 

6 judicial vacancies |  9-year terms  |  Elected at the 22nd ASP session  in New York, December 2023 

At its twenty-second session in 2023, the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) will elect six judges to fill one-third of the International Criminal Court’s 18 judicial seats, following the regular three-year election cycle. The six newly elected judges will each serve for a nine-year term from 2024-2033. 

READ THE COALITION BACKGROUND PAPER ON THE 2023 ICC JUDICIAL ELECTIONS 

Questionnaires to Judicial candidates - 2023 Election 

As part of our efforts to promote awareness and transparency of ICC elections, the Coalition invited candidates to the position of judges at the ICC to complete a questionnaire on their background, relevant qualifications and experience. 

Questionnaires to nominating states - 2023 Election 

In addition to inviting ICC judicial candidates to complete a questionnaire about their background, relevant qualifications and experience, the Coalition invited nominating States Parties to submit a questionnaire detailing information regarding their government's national nomination procedure for ICC judicial candidates.  

Due diligence process for judicial candidates 

A due diligence process to assess the candidates’ moral character was established for this election process.  

In accordance with the process, a confidential channel has been opened for the submission of any allegation of “human rights violations, incidents of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination and bullying in the workplace, as well as other ethical or legal breaches of a serious nature such as fraud or corruption”.  

Allegations may be reported to the Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM) by Friday 30 June 2023 at IOM.Vetting@icc-cpi.int.  

The allegations and their review by the IOM will be kept confidential at all times and will be treated in accordance with the process of due diligence. The identity of the complainant will not be disclosed without prior consent. The IOM can also be contacted directly at the above email address with any questions regarding the process.  

All details regarding the due diligence process are available on the ASP website in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. (The French version will be made available shortly). 

READ MORE ON VETTING FOR ICC AND ASP ELECTIONS

Timeline for the 2023 judicial elections 

  • 2 January 2023: Opening of the nomination period for 12 weeks. 
  • 26 March 2023: End of the initial nomination period (The period may be extended for two weeks for a maximum of three times, until 8 May 2023.) 
  • 9 April 2023: New deadline for nominations - The nomination period was extended because not all nomination requirements were met. 
  • 30 June 2023: deadline for submission of information on alleged misconduct to the confidential channel. 
  • 3-14 July 2023: Advisory Committee on Nominations session to assess candidates.
  • By mid-September (at least 16 weeks ahead of ASP22): ACN report submitted to the ASP. 
  • 31 October: Deadline for the IOM report to the ASP President on the due diligence process. 
  • October/November 2023:  ASP public roundtable discussions with candidates. 
  • 4-14 December 2023 (ASP22): ICC States Parties elect 6 new ICC judges. 
  • 12 March 2024: Beginning of the mandate of the 6 new judges. 

Minimum Voting Requirements for the 2023 judicial elections 

Voting at each judicial election is governed by a procedure aimed at ensuring that the ICC bench is balanced with respect to three criteria: 

  • Competence and expertise, or List A and List B; 

  • Equitable geographical representation; 

  • A fair representation of female and male judges. 

  

Minimum voting requirements in place at the 2023 elections 

ICC states parties should vote for at least: 

  • Competence and expertise: 1 candidate from List A; 1 candidate from List B. 

  • Geographic representation: 2 candidates from the Asia-Pacific group; 2 candidates from the Eastern European group. 

  • Gender balance: 3 male candidates.