Courts and Mock Trials in Model UN

A Model UN court tries a case instead of negotiating a resolution: each delegate sits either as a judge on the bench or as counsel for one party. Counsel argue from treaties, past judgments and evidence and answer the judges' questions, and the judges decide in a written judgment. Model UN courts often simulate the ICJ, for disputes between states, or the ICC, for crimes of individuals.

Updated Oct 25, 2026

  • Role seats: the five most named roles
  • Country seats: 64% of court seats

Upcoming court conferences

72 conferences

Browse all Model UN conferences

Court topics in Model UN

Of 595 court topics on mymun, 5% are about maritime and border disputes and 5% about armed conflicts.

ThemeShare of topics
  1. International law and justice 62%

    Example: The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, EMERGE Zambia National Model United Nations Conference – Mulungushi University Edition

  2. Maritime and border disputes 5%

    Example: Adjudicating Territorial and Sovereignty Disputes to Uphold International Law, DMUN MODEL LEAGUE OF NATIONS

  3. Armed conflicts 5%

    Example: Military Action Taken During The Gulf War, Hawai'i Pacific Model United Nations

  4. Human rights 3%

    Example: Discrimination: Qatar v. UAE, Global Virtual Model United Nations

  5. Cyber and AI 2%

    Example: Consumer Rights under the EU AI Act, Model Europe Summit

  6. Arms control and disarmament 2%

    Example: Case Concerning Nuclear Tests - Commonwealth of Australia v. Republic of France, SISCMUN

  7. Cold War 2%

    Example: Advisory Opinion on Reparation for Injuries Suffered in Service of the United Nations 1949, Lagos Model United Nations

  8. Terrorism and extremism 2%

    Example: Terrorism and the principle of Universal jurisdiction, DB-MUN

From 595 court topics on mymun. A topic can touch several themes.

Places named in court topics

  1. United States 8%
  2. Iran 5%
  3. Russia 4%
  4. Israel 3%
  5. Ukraine 3%
  6. Myanmar 3%
  7. France 3%
  8. Gambia 3%
  9. DR Congo 2%
  10. India 2%

Share of 595 court topics on mymun that name the place.

Recent court topics

  1. Legality of Unilateral Coercive Measures (Unilateral Economic Sanctions) under International Law

    Meridian Youth Connect Model United Nations
    International law and justice

  2. Deciding ownership over beehives and honey

    Bee Model United Nations

  3. South Africa v. Israel: In accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip

    GSMUN Cyprus
    International law and justice

  4. Trial of Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona

    Aprogen Model United Nations

  5. Nicaragua v. United States (Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua), 1986, ICJ 14

    Northern Thailand Model United Nations II
    International law and justiceCold War

  6. The Illusion of the "Ceasefire" and Ongoing Child Casualties

    DHAKA MUN

  7. The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo

    EMERGE Zambia National Model United Nations Conference – Mulungushi University Edition
    International law and justice

  8. The IMTFE Tokyo Trials

    Int. School of Prague Model United Nations

Court roles in Model UN

Court simulations on mymun filled about 12 seats. 64% of court seats are countries; 41% of court seat lists also name roles, most often advocates and prosecutors (32%) and judges (17%).

  • Role seats: the five most named roles
  • Country seats: 64% of court seats

Roles on court seat lists

RoleShare of seat lists
  1. Advocates and prosecutors32%
  2. Judges17%
  3. Heads of state and government7%
  4. Diplomats6%
  5. Military commanders2%
  6. Ministers and cabinet members1%

Share of 511 court seat lists on mymun that name the role.

Seat mix

64% of seats are countries

41% of seat lists also name roles

Courts and Mock Trials in Model UN: quick answers

How many delegates are in a Model UN court?

Its size follows the bench: a panel of judges plus counsel for each party. Court simulations on mymun filled about 12 seats.

How does a Model UN court case work?

Counsel file written pleadings, then argue the case in hearings and answer the judges' questions. The judges deliberate in private and deliver a written judgment, to which any judge may add an opinion of their own.

Is a Model UN court good for beginners?

Better after a first committee: counsel argue from treaties and past judgments and must answer questions from the bench on the spot.

What is a memorial in a Model UN court?

The written pleading counsel file before the conference: it sets out the facts, the law and the ruling the party asks for, and the other side answers with a counter-memorial, as at the ICJ.