Biographical Notes

The Judges

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		Nationality	Regional groups	List
	Judge Sang-Hyun SONG President	Republic of Korea	Asian States	A
	Judge Fatoumata Dembele DIARRA First Vice-President	Mali	African States	A
	Judge Hans-Peter KAUL Second Vice-President	Germany	WEOG	B
	Judge  Elizabeth ODIO BENITO	Costa Rica	GRULAC	A
	Judge Akua KUENYEHIA	Ghana	African States	B
	Judge  Erkki KOURULA	Finland	WEOG	B
	Judge Anita UŠACKA	Latvia	Eastern Europe	B
	Judge Sir Adrian FULFORD	United Kingdom	WEOG	A
	Judge Sylvia STEINER	Brazil	GRULAC	A
	Judge Ekaterina TRENDAFILOVA	Bulgaria	Eastern Europe	A
	Judge Daniel David Ntanda NSEREKO	Uganda	African States	A
	Judge Bruno COTTE	France	WEOG	A
	Judge Joyce ALUOCH	Kenya	African States	A
	Judge Sanji Mmasenono MONAGENG	Botswana	African States	B
	Judge Christine VAN DEN WYNGAERT	Belgium	WEOG	A
	Judge Cuno TARFUSSER	Italy	WEOG	A
	Judge Silvia Alejandra FERNÁNDEZ DE GURMENDI	Argentina	GRULAC	A
	Judge Kuniko OZAKI	Japan	Asian States	B
	Judge René BLATTMANN	Bolivia	GRULAC	B

 

• Judges elected from List A > Who have established competence in criminal law and procedure, and the necessary relevant experience, whether as judge, prosecutor, advocate or in other similar capacity, in criminal proceedings. 
• Judges elected from List B > Who have established competence in relevant areas of international law such as international humanitarian law and the law of human rights, and extensive experience in a professional legal capacity which is of relevance to the judicial work of the Court.

First election
During its first resumed session held in New York from 3 to 7 February 2003, the Assembly of States Parties elected the eighteen judges of the Court for a term of office of three, six, and nine years. 

Second election
Six judges have been elected by the Assembly of States Parties for a term of office of nine years, during the resumed session of its fourth session, held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, on 26 and 27 January 2006.  The judges constitute a forum of international experts that represents the world's principal legal systems.

Third election
At the seventh session of the Assembly of States Parties, held in New York, opened on 19 January 2009 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Assembly elected the six new judges to fill the judicial vacancies for the terms of office of their predecessors. On 16 February 2009, Mr. Mohamed Shahabuddeen (Guyana) submitted his resignation from the International Criminal Court for personal reasons.