or World Court
Principal judicial body of the United Nations , located at The Hague.
Its predecessor organization was the Permanent Court of International Justice, the judicial body of the League of Nations . Its first session was held in 1946. Its jurisdiction is limited to disputes between states willing to accept its authority on matters of international law . Its decisions are binding, but it has no enforcement power; appeals must be made to the UN Security Council. Its 15-member body of judges, each of whom serves a nine-year term, is elected by countries party to the court's founding statute. No two judges may come from the same country. See also European Court of Justice .