The International Court of Justice: Crisis and Reformation

Abstract

During the last two years the United States has taken several significant actions to reduce both the jurisdiction and the prestige of the International Court of Justice (the Court). On April 6, 1984, the United States attempted to modify its declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court in order to exclude disputes involving Central America for a period of two years. On January 18, 1985, the United States notified the Court that it would no longer participate in the Nicaragua v. United States proceedings. Finally, and most significantly, on October 7, 1985, the United States terminated its acceptance of the Court's compulsory jurisdiction.