Why ICC Judges Are Under Attack – Justice on Trial- 2025

Table of Contents

ICC Explainer By Citizen of Europe

The International Criminal Court (ICC) was founded on a radical promise: that even the most powerful should be held accountable for the world’s worst crimes. But today, that promise is under threat — not from rogue militias or criminal networks, but from governments.

In our latest explainer video, “Justice on Trial: Why ICC Judges Are Under Attack,” we examine the mounting pressure on the Court and its officials. From U.S. sanctions during the Trump administration to Russia issuing arrest warrants against ICC judges after the Putin indictment, a chilling trend is emerging: retaliation against those who uphold international law.

The ICC’s mandate is clear — prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity when national courts won’t. But nations like the U.S. and Russia, who have refused to join the Court, have shown a selective approach: supporting it when it serves their interests, attacking it when it challenges their impunity.

This isn’t just a legal story. It’s a story about global norms, power, and the fragility of justice itself.

If we allow a world where judges are punished for applying the law equally, we don’t just weaken the ICC — we erode the very idea that law can be above politics.