The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) States Parties, the decision-making body, has been debating recognising an International Criminal Bar as an official advisory body for maintaining a list of available defence counsel.
The global bar was established at a Montreal conference in 2002 and has adopted its own constitution and organisation. Its application for ICC recognition was considered by the States Parties at its meeting last week in New York. Under the court’s rules, its registry has to “consult with any independent representative body or legal associations” over the membership of its panel of defence lawyers.
ICC registrar Bruno Cathala is assembling a list of counsel for approval at the next States Parties meeting, expected next September, along with the application for recognition. Cathala said he was “committed to ensuring that lawyers would represent different legal systems” and that training should be provided by the court.