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.

Find a conference

Similar: ICJ · ICC · Historical committees · Crisis committees

  • Role seats: the five most named roles
  • Country seats: 65% of court seats

Court applications closing soon

20 conferences close applications in the next 30 days. These close first.

More court conferences

85 more upcoming

Browse all Model UN conferences

Where and when court conferences run

The United States, Poland and France host the most. February is the busiest month.

In 27 countries and online

Upcoming by month

22 in February 202712 open for applications now

39 of the 91 are for school students only and 15 for university students only; 21 are free. See all high school MUN conferences or university MUN conferences.

Most court conferences are in the United States, Poland and France.

Court topics in Model UN

Of 614 court topics on mymun, 5% are about maritime and border disputes and 5% about armed conflicts.

ThemeShare of topics
  1. International law and justice 61%

    Example: The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Warsaw Model United Nations

  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. Arms control and disarmament 2%

    Example: Adding nunchucks to the weapons of mass destruction, Zosia Lubas Model United Nations

Places named in court topics

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

Recent court topics

  1. The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo

    Warsaw Model United Nations
    International law and justice

  2. The Legality of Humanitarian Intervention Without United Nations Security Council Authorization

    Global Dialogue MUN

  3. Making a list of possible punishments for breaking the Lubas Charter

    Zosia Lubas Model United Nations

  4. Immunities and Criminal Proceedings – Equatorial Guinea v. France (2016)

    Cambridge University International Model United Nations
    International law and justice

Court roles in Model UN

Court simulations on mymun filled about 12 seats. 65% 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: 65% 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%

Seat mix

65% of seats are countries

41% of seat lists also name roles

How courts and mock trials compare

Their rooms seat about 12, against 17 in historical committees.

CommitteeUpcomingOpen nowRoom sizeSchool onlyMost debated
Courts and Mock Trials91421243%International law and justice
International Court of Justice (ICJ)51201357%International law and justice
International Criminal Court (ICC)27111230%International law and justice
Historical Committees136571754%Armed conflicts
Crisis Committees149721540%Armed conflicts

Courts and Mock Trials in Model UN: questions and 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.

Can school students join a court?

Yes. 76 of the 91 upcoming conferences with a court take high school delegates, and 39 are for school students only.

Prepare for your court

Updated Nov 12, 2026