The Legitimacy of the International Court of Justice Role in Developing International Law

Undoubtedly, International Court of Justice as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and also one of the highest international forums with general subject-matter jurisdiction has had an important role in development of international law for decades. In spite of ICJ’s core role in the development of international law, the legitimacy of this contribution has always been contested by some scholars. It is obvious that ICJ is not and could not be a legislative body in international law, but through of its judicial capacity the ICJ has developed existing rules and clarified the vague customary rules. In this respect, the legitimacy of those decisions or practice has always been questioned. As this article argues, ICJ through its high position in the international dispute settlement system and also its justification capability, has obtained enough legitimacy of the development of international law and such legitimacy has been approved by international community.