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The Changing Process Of International Law And The Role Of The World Court, James Kelly

Patrick Kelly

The U.S. withdrawal of its declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and its withdrawal from the ICJ proceedings in the Nicaragua v. U.S. case caused a crisis of confidence in the Court that continues today. The underlying premise of advocates of ICJ jurisdiction has been that increased participation in ICJ jurisdiction would help resolve disputes and promote respect for the Court and international law. A new declaration by the United States, however, would be a triumph of form over substance. The United States has never effectively accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court and the …