The Court shall be composed of judges elected by the Assembly of States Parties in accordance with this Treaty.
Judges shall be nominated by States Parties and elected by a two-thirds majority of the Assembly of States Parties.
A person shall be eligible for judicial office where they can demonstrate a strong understanding of the laws, principles, and responsibilities relevant to the work of the Court, together with integrity, independence, impartiality, sound judgment, and a commitment to justice.
Formal academic qualifications or possession of a university degree shall not, by themselves, be a requirement for appointment as a judge.
Candidates may demonstrate their knowledge and suitability through education, professional experience, practical experience, independent study, community service, legal work, human-rights work, international affairs, mediation, dispute resolution, or other relevant experience.
The Court and the Assembly of States Parties shall establish a fair and transparent process for assessing the knowledge, competence, integrity, independence, and suitability of candidates.
Judges shall exercise their judicial functions independently and shall not seek or accept instructions from any State, government, political organisation, private organisation, or other external authority.
Judges shall disclose any actual conflict of interest or circumstance that could reasonably prevent them from considering a matter impartially. A personal, family, professional, community, or other relationship with a person involved in a case shall not, by itself, prevent a judge from hearing the matter where the judge is able to remain independent and impartial.
The Assembly of States Parties shall determine the number of judges, their terms of office, and procedures for election, replacement, resignation, suspension, and removal, subject to this Treaty and the principle of judicial independence.
The composition of the Court should reflect the diversity of the States Parties and the people whom the Court serves.
Cases involving Heads of State, Heads of Government, senior government officials, senior political figures, or other persons whose position or public significance may give rise to exceptional international, political, or public consequences shall ordinarily be heard by a panel of three judges.
A three-judge panel may also be appointed where the Court considers that the seriousness, complexity, international significance, or public importance of a case makes a panel appropriate.
The judges hearing a case shall have equal judicial authority. Decisions of a three-judge panel shall be determined in accordance with the Court's Rules and may be reached by majority decision, unless this Treaty provides otherwise.