Election of ICJ Judges (First Ballot)

Today, the General Assembly and the Security Council are holding elections for five seats on the International Court of Justice. On the first ballot, four persons were elected: Ronny Abraham (France), Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh (Jordan), Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade (Brazil), and Christopher Greenwood (United Kingdom). Though Miriam Defensor-Santiago (Philippines) received the necessary majority in the General Assembly, a majority of the Security Council preferred Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (Somalia). Since the General Assembly and the Security Council must agree on the appointment, neither was elected on the first ballot. The General Assembly and the Security Council are now conducting a second ballot to fill the fifth and final open seat.