Three female judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have filed a lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump and several high-ranking officials in his administration, challenging the sanctions imposed by Washington as illegal and an infringement on the independence of the international judicial system.
The lawsuit, filed in a court in New York, was initiated by Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, Ugandan judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, and Beninese judge Ren Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou.
Accusations of a “financial death sentence”
The judges stated that the American sanctions were intended to exert “extraneous pressure” to punish them for fulfilling their judicial responsibilities. They described these measures as a “financial death sentence” due to their extensive impact on financial and professional operations.
The Trump administration previously imposed sanctions on several ICC judges, including the Prosecutor General. These sanctions included a ban on entry into the USA and the freezing of any related assets, as well as restrictions on financial or property transactions within the territory of the United States.
Reasons for the Imposition of Sanctions
These sanctions were a response to investigations conducted by the ICC regarding Israel, including an arrest warrant issued by the court in 2024 against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The judges are asking the court to lift the sanctions, arguing that such measures against international judges represent an unprecedented step that undermines the independence of international justice. In addition to President Trump, the lawsuit also targets Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Source: Sky News Arabia