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International Courts and Tribunals

The International Court of Justice, arbitral tribunals, international criminal courts and the WTO.

AGLC4 Chapters 10 to 13 cover decisions and materials from international courts and dispute resolution bodies, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), international arbitral tribunals, international criminal courts and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The first step is identifying which international body produced the decision.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

ICJ decisions are cited by identifying the case, the stage of proceedings, and the official report where the decision appears. An ICJ citation includes:

  • the case name;
  • the parties;
  • the phase of the proceedings;
  • the ICJ Reports reference; and
  • the pinpoint reference.

The case name, parties and phase are italicised.

Case Name (Parties) (Phase) [year] ICJ Rep first page, page [paragraph].

7Maritime Delimitation in the Coral Sea (Australia v France) (Merits) [2028] ICJ Rep 44, 61 [37].

ICJ pleadings

Written pleadings and other materials filed before the ICJ follow separate rules under AGLC4 rules 10.3 to 10.4.

These are cited differently from judgments because they are submissions rather than decisions.

International arbitral tribunals

International arbitration decisions are cited by identifying:

  • the case name;
  • the type of award;
  • the tribunal;
  • the case number;
  • the date; and
  • the paragraph pinpoint.

Case Name (Award type) (Tribunal, Case No number, day month year) [paragraph].

19Meridian Power Ltd v Bolivia (Award) (ICSID Arbitral Tribunal, Case No ARB/22/14, 9 October 2027) [412].

Types of arbitration

These rules apply both to investor-state arbitration and to disputes between states.

The citation identifies the tribunal because international arbitration does not operate through one unified court system.

International criminal courts

Decisions from international criminal courts, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and ad hoc tribunals, are cited by identifying:

  • the case name;
  • the type of decision;
  • the court;
  • the chamber;
  • the case number;
  • the date; and
  • the paragraph pinpoint.

Case Name (Decision type) (Court, Chamber, Case No number, day month year) [paragraph].

26Prosecutor v Adeyemi (Sentencing Judgment) (International Criminal Court, Trial Chamber II, Case No ICC-02/11-02/19, 3 December 2029) [88].

World Trade Organization (WTO)

WTO materials use a different citation structure because WTO disputes are reported through official documents rather than traditional law reports. Panel and Appellate Body reports are cited by:

  • the report type;
  • the dispute name;
  • the WTO document number;
  • the date; and
  • the paragraph pinpoint.

Report type, Dispute Name, WTO Doc number (day month year) [paragraph].

41Panel Report, Australia — Measures Concerning Sugar Export Subsidies, WTO Doc WT/DS999/R (14 March 2028) [7.221].

Pinpoints for international decisions

International decisions generally use paragraph pinpoints. Unlike a page pinpoint in an Australian reported case, these are placed in square brackets.

Correct
[37]
Incorrect
✗ 37

Quick identification guide

SourceMain identifying features
ICJ decisionCase name + phase + ICJ Reports
Arbitration awardCase name + award type + tribunal
International criminal decisionCase name + decision type + court and chamber
WTO reportReport type + dispute + WTO document number

Related Index entries

International Court of Justice decisionICJ pleading or written proceedingInternational arbitral or tribunal decisionInternational criminal court or tribunal decisionWTO panel or Appellate Body report

Last reviewed 4 August 2026