By Stephen Simon
Three judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have filed a lawsuit against United States President Donald Trump and members of his administration, challenging sanctions imposed on them and describing the measures as unlawful interference with judicial independence.
The case was filed in a federal court in Manhattan by judges Kimberly Prost of Canada, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, and Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin. The judges argue that the sanctions were designed to punish and pressure them over decisions taken in their official capacities as members of the ICC.
The sanctions were imposed following actions by the ICC relating to an arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the court’s earlier investigation into alleged war crimes involving United States forces in Afghanistan. The Trump administration has long maintained that the court lacks jurisdiction over U.S. citizens and officials.
In their court filings, the judges contend that the sanctions exceed the powers granted under U.S. law and were not based on any genuine national emergency. They further argue that the restrictions amount to an attempt to influence judicial decision-making through financial and personal pressure.
According to the lawsuit, the sanctions have significantly disrupted their daily lives by limiting access to banking services, credit cards, travel arrangements and online platforms used for both professional and personal activities. The judges described the restrictions as a form of “financial death penalty” that undermines their ability to function effectively.
The ICC, established in 2002 and headquartered in The Hague, prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. While 125 countries are members of the court, several major powers, including the United States, China, Russia and Israel, do not recognise its jurisdiction.
Legal observers say the lawsuit could become a significant test of the extent to which governments can use economic sanctions against international judicial officials without infringing on the independence of global institutions.
The White House, the U.S. State Department and the Treasury Department had not issued detailed responses to the lawsuit as of the time of filing.
