HAGUE, 01 June 2021, (TON): International Court of Justice (ICJ) announces the passing of H.E. Judge James Richard Crawford on 31 May 2021 in The Hague. Judge Crawford had been a Member of the Court since 6 February 2015. His term of office was due to expire in February 2024.

ife to international law and enjoyed a long and distinguished career. After obtaining undergraduate degrees from the University of Adelaide, he pursued his studies as a postgraduate at the University of Oxford. He later obtained further postgraduate qualifications from various universities across Europe. Judge Crawford was called to the Bar as Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Australia in 1977. He was called to the Bar as Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 6 November 1987 and was appointed Senior Counsel on 7 November 1997.

During his illustrious career, Judge Crawford held a number of key positions in his home country. Most notably he served as Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1982-1990) and as a member of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO (1984-1988). He was also a member of the Advisory Committee on the Australian Judicial System, Constitutional Commission (1985-1987) and a member of the Admiralty Rules Committee (1989-1992). At the international level, Judge Crawford’s positions included member of the United Nations International Law Commission (1992-2001) and Special Rapporteur on State Responsibility (1997-2001). Prior to his election to the International Court of Justice, he served as senior counsel, counsel or co-counsel in some 30 contentious and advisory proceedings before the Court. He also served as president, judge, arbitrator or counsel in a number of other proceedings before various national and international courts and tribunals.