Five judges elected to United Nations’ top court

The General Assembly and the Security Council elected five judges to serve on the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, Report informs, citing the UN.

In parallel and independent voting conducted by secret ballot, the Assembly and the Council re-elected one judge who is currently serving, Hilary Charlesworth of Australia.

Another justice currently on the bench, Kirill Gevorgian of Russia, was not successful in securing another term.

Four new justices were elected: Bogdan-Lucian Aurescu (Romania); Sarah Hull Cleveland (United States); Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo Verduzco (Mexico); and Dire Tladi (South Africa).

In the complex balloting procedure, the General Assembly achieved a conclusive result – with five candidates securing absolute majority support - in the first round of voting.

By contrast, the Security Council went through five rounds of balloting.

Each justice will serve a nine-year term, starting on February 6, next year.