Who are International Judges?

The social field of international adjudication: Structures and practices of a conflictive professional universe

“…Often, a successful candidate owes the privilege to an inscrutable set of factors such as possessing the right nationality, holding personal and professional contacts, and more generally being at the right place at the right time. 159 Under these conditions, it would be difficult for even the most accomplished lawyer to deliberately plan to become an international judge.…”

The effects of international judges’ personal characteristics on their judging

“…Most international judges are in the later stages of their careers, aged between 50 and 70. 21 In recent years, however, a moderate trend towards nominating/appointing/electing younger judges (in their thirties or early forties) to certain international courts, especially those operating in Europe (such as the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)) can be observed. 22 Although this may be perceived as an asset for some international courtsgiven that younger international judges can bring some new perspectives into judicial decision-making at these courts, different world views and convictions, as well as different kinds of sentiments concerning key issuestheir presence on the international bench may also raise concerns about their judicial independence associated with the prospects of their further employment within their national government.…”

Geography, Politics and Culture in the United Nations Human Rights Committee

“…65 One of the main reasons for voting patterns in international tribunals might be the will of a judge to be re-elected to the tribunal on which he sits, to be appointed to another international tribunal or institution or to receive a prestigious position in his home country. 66 Judges might have two main incentives to be elected to an international tribunal. First, being elected to an international tribunal is considered very prestigious in the legal world and gives the person a rare opportunity to take part in the shaping of international legal norms.…”

“…Moreover, since international judges (and other decision makers) tend to be reappointed to other international institutions, the nomination to the HRC gives the CM an opportunity to be appointed to other prestigious international positions that pay high salaries. 68 Since the election to other international tribunals also depends many times on the decision of the same regional group, it is expected that a CM who wants to be re-elected, or elected to another tribunal, shall vote in line with the expectations of his regional group. Finally, it should not be excluded that a CM (or a judge) might vote in a certain way because he truly believes in the way that his country of nationality, or the culture from which he comes, sees human rights and not because he expects to receive a personal benefit for his vote.…”