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Dannenbaum, Tom --- "Regulation of the international bench" [2017] ELECD 376; in Schabas, A. William; Murphy, Shannonbrooke (eds), "Research Handbook on International Courts and Tribunals" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017) 377

Book Title: Research Handbook on International Courts and Tribunals

Editor(s): Schabas, A. William; Murphy, Shannonbrooke

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781005019

Section: Chapter 13

Section Title: Regulation of the international bench

Author(s): Dannenbaum, Tom

Number of pages: 30

Abstract/Description:

A code of judicial ethics must address plausibly the key threats to the relevant judges’ impartiality, independence and integrity. A code that does so on the subjective level bolsters the rule of law. A code that does so on the objective level enhances the rule of law. Efforts towards an ethics for the international bench fall short because they are weak on three key threats peculiar to international judging: perceived judicial nationalism, state power and normative diversity. First, nationality limits and ad hoc judges aggravate the appearance of national partiality, strengthen states’ incentives to influence ‘their’ judge, and distort judges’ understanding of their role, thus exacerbating the very dangers they are supposed to nullify. Second, worries about generating state buy-in underpin a lack of resistance to state control over judicial appointments. Yet, international courts’ primary advantage over arbitration in appealing to states is precisely the independent, judicial character that is sacrificed when states retain such great authority over appointments. Third, the challenges associated with diverse global expectations regarding the judicial role are left unaddressed by minimal and vague codes that provide little in the way of actionable ethical guidance. Four achievable reforms would counteract these failings: eliminating nationality rules; granting former international judges global permanent residency rights; delegating judicial appointments to an independent body; and providing greater specificity on the deliberative process, through continuing ethical education and empowered professional judicial organizations. KEYWORDS: judicial ethics; international courts; judicial impartiality; judicial independence; Burgh House Principles; judging