International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Welcome to the Berlin International Court of Justice!
We, Lena Walther, David Heim, and Katharina Windemuth, will serve as the Presidents of the Berlin International Court of Justice (BMICJ) at the BERMUN 2009 conference. All three of us are experienced MUNers from the John F. Kennedy School, who several years ago discovered the ICJ as a new and interesting forum for all those with political and judicial interests. Let us introduce the BMICJ to you:
The ICJ is the essential judicial organ of the United Nations. It decides, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by states. In addition, certain international organs and agencies are entitled to call upon it for advisory opinions. Eight years ago, the Berlin Model International Court of Justice was founded. Since then, the BMICJ has been growing and learning. In order to further expand, we encourage for the future the participation of more students from different schools and nations. What sets the BMICJ apart from other forums is that it features a small group of interested and motivated students, resulting in highly intense debates. Also, it is organized and run only by students, presenting a new and unusual challenge.

This the year the challenge will be bigger and more unusual than ever. Inspired by the MICC (Model International Criminal Court) this year’s BMICJ will feature new elements. These include two opposing teams each representing either the applicants or respondents in the case at hand, and witnesses which will be called forward during the presentation of evidence. We believe that this will simultaneously make our committee more authentic, lively, and fun.

This offers the participants a unique learning experience as well as an unforgettable 4 days in Berlin. In order to maintain the high standards that are expected at the BERMUN conference, participants of the BMICJ invest large amounts of time and effort. It is essential to exhibit utmost dedication to the ICJ both before and during the conference.

This year the BMICJ 2009 is composed of 16 judges, 2 advocate teams of 2 each, and three presidents, who will act as judges, advisors and registrars, responsible for administrative issues. We are particularly blessed to have a special ICJ adviser to assist us throughout our entire legal deliberations. He has completed his legal training and was also a former BERMUN Secretary-General.

We look forward to an outstanding and productive conference. The judges will be given plenty opportunities to realize this vision through discussing, assessing, and passing verdicts. We hope our judges will find the ICJ as valuable a first look into international law as we have at past conferences.

See you in November!
Lena Walther, President of the BMICJ 2009
David Heim, President of the BMICJ 2009
Katharina Windemuth, Registrar of the BMICJ 2009