2003 International Criminal Court judges election
An ordinary election for the first full bench of 18 judges of the International Criminal Court was held during the first resumption of the 1st session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in New York between 3 and 7 February 2003.
Background
The judges elected at this election were to take on 11 March 2003. Six judges were to remain in office until 2006, six until 2009 and another six for the whole nine-year term until 2012.The election was governed by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Its article 36 states that "he States Parties shall, in the selection of judges, take into account the need, within the membership of the Court, for:
- The representation of the principal legal systems of the world;
- Equitable geographical representation; and
- A fair representation of female and male judges."
- List A contains those judges that "ave established competence in criminal law and procedure, and the necessary relevant experience, whether as judge, prosecutor, advocate or in other similar capacity, in criminal proceedings";
- List B contains those who "ave established competence in relevant areas of international law such as international humanitarian law and the law of human rights, and extensive experience in a professional legal capacity which is of relevance to the judicial work of the Court".
Nomination process
Following the rules, the nomination period of judges for the 2003 election lasted from 9 September to 30 November 2002. The following persons were nominated:| Name | Nationality | List A or B | Region | Gender |
| René Blattmann | List B | Latin American and Caribbean States | Male | |
| Antonio Boggiano | List B | Latin American and Caribbean States | Male | |
| Marc Bossuyt | List B | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Maureen H. Clark | List A | Western European and Other States | Female | |
| Ion Diaconu | List B | Eastern European States | Male | |
| Fatoumata D. Diarra | List A | African States | Female | |
| Jargalsaikhany Enkhsaikhan | List B | Asian States | Male | |
| Adrian Fulford | List A | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Ioannis Giannidis | List A | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Dimitar Gochev | List B | Eastern European States | Male | |
| Bunchhat Heng Vong | List B | Asian States | Male | |
| Karl T. Hudson-Phillips | List A | Latin American and Caribbean States | Male | |
| Claude Jorda | List A | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Ivo Josipović | List B | Eastern European States | Male | |
| Adolphus G. Karibi-White | List A | African States | Male | |
| Hajnalka Kárpáti | List A | Eastern European States | Female | |
| Joseph-Médard Katuala Kaba Kashala | List A | African States | Male | |
| Hans-Peter Kaul | List B | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Philippe Kirsch | List B | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Erkki Kourula | List B | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Akua Kuenyahia | List B | African States | Female | |
| Kamugumya S. K. Lugakingira | List A | African States | Male | |
| Roberto Maclean Ugarteche | List B | Latin American and Caribbean States | Male | |
| Doudou Ndir | List A | African States | Male | |
| Rafael Nieto Navia | List B | Latin American and Caribbean States | Male | |
| Daniel D. N. Nsereko | List B | African States | Male | |
| Elizabeth Odio Benito | List A | Latin American and Caribbean States | Female | |
| Barbara L. Ott | List A | Western European and Other States | Female | |
| Gheorghios M. Pikis | List A | Asian States | Male | |
| Navanethem Pillay | List B | African States | Female | |
| Mauro Politi | List B | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Almiro Rodrigues | List A | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Victor Rodríguez-Cedeño | List B | Latin American and Caribbean States | Male | |
| Mory O. Sissoko | List A | African States | Male | |
| Tuiloma N. Slade | List A | Asian States | Male | |
| Raymond C. Sock | List B | African States | Male | |
| Sang-hyun Song | List A | Asian States | Male | |
| Sylvia H. de Figueiredo Steiner | List A | Latin American and Caribbean States | Female | |
| Timoci U. Tuivaga | List A | Asian States | Male | |
| Anita Ušacka | List B | Eastern European States | Female | |
| Juan A. Yáñez-Barnuevo | List B | Western European and Other States | Male | |
| Eleonora Zielińska | List A | Eastern European States | Female | |
| Boštjan Zupančič | List A | Eastern European States | Male |
The candidature of Kocou A. Capo-Chichi of Benin was withdrawn.
Minimum voting requirements
Minimum voting requirements governed part of the election. This was to ensure that article 36 cited above is fulfilled. The following minimum voting requirements existed:Regarding the List A or B requirement, there was a minimum voting requirement of nine judges from List A and five judges from List B.
Regarding the regional criteria, there were minimum voting requirements for three African, two Asian, two Eastern European judges, three Latin American and Caribbean judges and three judges from Western European and Other States.
Regarding the gender criteria, there was a minimum voting requirement for six female and six male judges.
The voting requirements were as follows: