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How are cases divided among the International Criminal Court’s Pre-Trial, Trial, and Appeals divisions?

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Hear about the formation, functions, and limitations of the International Criminal Court — International criminal law Learn about the International Criminal Court.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is composed of 18 judges who are elected by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute. These judges are organized into three distinct judicial divisions: the Pre-Trial, Trial, and Appeals divisions.1

Each of these divisions is further subdivided into chambers to manage the court's caseload. While the specific distribution of cases across these chambers is structured to ensure judicial oversight, the divisions serve the following primary functions:1

Pre-Trial Division: This division provides essential judicial scrutiny of the prosecutor's activities, a role that distinguishes the ICC from purely adversarial common-law systems.1
Trial Division: This division is responsible for conducting the proceedings of cases that have moved past the initial investigation and confirmation stages.1
Appeals Division: This division handles the review of decisions made by the lower chambers.1

The court’s procedural regime functions as a hybrid, combining elements of the adversarial model with the inquisitorial approach found in civil-law systems to ensure the rights and interests of the defendant are protected throughout the judicial process.1