The first in a series of Companions that offer broad coverage of a range of international courts and tribunals, The Elgar Companion to the International Court of Justice is a one-stop reference for those wishing to understand this highly significant and successful court.The Companion offers an objective account of how the ICJ came into being, the general principles on which it was founded, and how it functions today. It addresses certain fundamental aspects of the Court, such as its jurisdiction, structure and jurisprudence, as well as its role in the wider world. The Companion gives a human flavor to the institution through the portraits of some of the great figures that have served as its judges.

Written in a lucid and clear manner, the Companion will appeal to all those interested in learning more about the work of the principal judicial body of the United Nations.

Contents: I. The Idea and the Creation of an International Court 2. From the Permanent Court of International Justice to the International Court of Justice 3. Institutional Background of the Court 4. The ICJ and Other Tribunals in The Hague 5. The UN Charter, the ICJ Statute, the Rules of Court and the Practice Directions 6. The Composition of the Court 7. The Judges of the Court - Some Portraits 8. The Registry 9. The Contentious Jurisdiction of the Court and the Admissibility of Claims 10. The Great Principles of the Law of the ICJ 11. The Advisory Proceedings 12. The Procedure and Process 14. Conclusion and Outlook Judgments, Advisory opinions and Orders rendered by the ICJ (by chronological order) Index