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Liechtenstein has appointed an ad hoc judge for its case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ): Professor Sir Franklin Berman
A party to an action before the International Court of Justice can appoint an "ad hoc judge” if none of the judges involved are of the same nationality as the party itself. An ad-hoc judge has equal decision-making authority to the other members of the judiciary bench. He has, like the other judges, the authority to act independently in his decisions. The nationality of an ad-hoc judge is not stipulated in the court’s statutes; similarly, appointment of an ad-hoc judge is not obligatory. The Principality of Liechtenstein, however, has exercised its right to do so and chosen the British expert in international law, Professor Sir Franklin Berman from the UK, a public international law authority, as its ad-hoc judge for the proceedings.

Professor Sir Franklin Berman

Professor Sir Franklin Berman is a specialist in international law with international experience and a profound expert knowledge. He has conducted numerous cases before the International Court of Justice and a wide range of arbitratral tribunals. He participated in the Lockerbie bombing trials as the Agent of the United Kingdom. Furthermore, he represented the United Kingdom in a multitude of international negotiations. For instance, he was the head of the British delegation involved in drafting the Statute for the International Criminal Court recently inaugurated in the Netherlands.

Sir Frank commenced his career in 1965 in the Diplomatic Service of the United Kingdom. In 1966, he was called to the Bar of England and Wales, and he was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992. From 1991 to 1999, he acted as chief legal adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Sir Frank is a member of many international committees concerned with the administration of justice, for example as chairman of the Austrian National Compensation Committee for Victims of Nazi Persecution.

Sir Frank’s research interests focus on the law of treaties, international human rights and the law of international organisations. Sir Frank teaches as a visiting professor for international law at Oxford University, University of Cape Town (South Africa) and King’s College in London.