international court of justice
International Court of Justice. The 15-member permanent tribunal that is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. • The Court sits in The Hague, Netherlands. It has jurisdiction to decide disputes submitted to it by nations, and to render advisory opinions requested by the United Nations and its specialized agencies. The U.N. Security Council has the express power to enforce the Court’s judgments. — Abbr. ICJ. — Also termed World Court. [Cases: International Law 10.45. C.J.S. International Law §§ 59–65.]