The ICJ: A World Court for a New World

Introduction

Sir Christopher Greenwood CMG QC, Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), delivered a public lecture on 29 November 2013 on the timely topic, “The ICJ: A World Court for a New World”. The public lecture, co-hosted by the Centre for International Law and the Attorney-General’s Chambers of Singapore, attracted more than 100 attendees from academia, civil society, public sector and the private sector. The lecture was chaired by Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh. AGC was represented by IAD Director-General Mr Pang Kang Chau and CIL was represented by Deputy Director Dr. R. Navin. Judge Greenwood spoke about the ongoing significance of the ICJ to international relations in Asia and beyond, the role of the ICJ vis-à-vis other international courts such as the ICC and ITLOS, and assumptions about the ‘fragmentation’ of international law.

About the Speaker

Judge Sir Christopher Greenwood CMG QC has been a Judge of the International Court of Justice since February 2009. He was educated at Raeburn Park School, Singapore, Wellingborough School and Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, where he is now an Honorary Fellow. Prior to his election to the International Court by the United Nations, he was Professor of International Law at the London School of Economics and a barrister. Sir Christopher was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1978 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1999. He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to international law in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2002 and was knighted in the 2009 New Year Honours. Sir Christopher holds the degrees of BA (Law) (First Class Hons), LLB (International Law) (First Class Hons) and MA from the University of Cambridge. Before becoming a Judge, he acted as counsel for numerous States and private clients in both domestic and international courts and tribunals, as well as sitting as an arbitrator in a number of cases. He is the editor of the International Law Reports and author of a number of articles on international law.