International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Model UN

The International Court of Justice, the UN's principal judicial organ, has 15 judges elected for nine-year terms and sits in The Hague. It settles legal disputes between states, with final judgments that bind the parties, and gives advisory opinions to UN bodies. In Model UN it runs as a court: advocates argue a case and judges rule.

Updated Oct 25, 2026

  • Role seats: the four most named roles
  • Country seats: 74% of ICJ seats

Upcoming ICJ conferences

41 conferences

Browse all Model UN conferences

ICJ topics in Model UN

Of 308 ICJ topics on mymun, 9% are about maritime and border disputes, 6% about armed conflicts and 5% about human rights.

ThemeShare of topics
  1. International law and justice 66%

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

  2. Maritime and border disputes 9%

    Example: Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands (Gabon/Equatorial Guinea), Anavryta Model Lyceum Model United Nations

  3. Armed conflicts 6%

    Example: Historical: Nato's Bombing of Yugoslavia, Global Virtual Model United Nations

  4. Human rights 5%

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

  5. Terrorism and extremism 3%

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

  6. Arms control and disarmament 3%

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

  7. Economy and development 2%

    Example: Advisory opinion: the legal status of Sustainable Development Goals, Milan International Model United Nations

  8. Refugees and migration 2%

    Example: Asylum (Colombia v. Peru), Model United Nations of the University of Chicago

From 308 ICJ topics on mymun. A topic can touch several themes.

Places named in ICJ topics

  1. United States 15%
  2. Iran 9%
  3. Israel 6%
  4. Russia 6%
  5. Myanmar 5%
  6. Gambia 5%
  7. Ukraine 5%
  8. France 5%
  9. Palestine 5%
  10. India 4%

Share of 308 ICJ topics on mymun that name the place.

Recent ICJ topics

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

    Meridian Youth Connect Model United Nations
    International law and justiceEconomy and development

  2. 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

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

    Northern Thailand Model United Nations II
    International law and justice

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

    DHAKA MUN

  5. Contentious Case 1: Corfu Channel (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland v Albania) 1949

    Lagos Model United Nations
    International law and justice

  6. Proceedings regarding alleged war crimes in Congo attributable to Rwanda

    Deutsche Schule der Borromäerinnen Kairo Model United Nations
    International law and justice

  7. UAE vs. Iran : Territorial dispute over the Islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb

    The Regional Union of Youth Assemblies Model United Nations Conference — Amman
    Maritime and border disputes

  8. India vs Pakistan - Interpretation and implementation of the Indus Water Treaty

    All Asia NODMUN IV

ICJ roles in Model UN

ICJ simulations on mymun filled about 13 seats. 74% of ICJ seats are countries; 39% of ICJ seat lists also name roles, most often advocates and prosecutors (32%) and judges (18%). The real Court's 15 judges need an absolute majority in both the General Assembly and the Security Council, and a third of the Court is elected every three years.

  • Role seats: the four most named roles
  • Country seats: 74% of ICJ seats

Roles on ICJ seat lists

RoleShare of seat lists
  1. Advocates and prosecutors32%
  2. Judges18%
  3. Heads of state and government7%
  4. Diplomats3%

Share of 259 ICJ seat lists on mymun that name the role.

Seat mix

74% of seats are countries

39% of seat lists also name roles

ICJ in Model UN: quick answers

How many judges sit on an ICJ simulation?

The real Court has 15 judges, and a state party with no judge of its nationality on the bench may choose a judge ad hoc. ICJ simulations on mymun filled about 13 seats.

Are ICJ judgments binding?

Yes, for the parties to a case: judgments are final and without appeal. Advisory opinions, which UN organs and agencies request, are not binding except in the rare cases a treaty provides for.

Is the ICJ a good committee for beginners?

It is demanding: advocates prepare written and oral arguments and judges write a ruling, which takes more legal preparation than a debate. The Legal Committee takes up international law as a General Assembly debate instead.

What cases do ICJ simulations hear in Model UN?

Top themes in 308 ICJ topics on mymun: maritime and border disputes (9%), armed conflicts (6%) and human rights (5%). Places named most often: the United States, Iran, Israel, Russia and Myanmar.