Rosalyn Higgins
Encyclopedia
Dame Rosalyn Higgins, DBE
, QC
(b. in London
, 1937) is the former President of the International Court of Justice
. Higgins was the first female judge to be appointed to the ICJ, and was elected President in 2006. Her term of office expired on 6 February 2009. She was succeeded as President by Judge Hisashi Owada
, and Sir Christopher Greenwood
was elected in her place as Judge in the International Court of Justice.
Terence Higgins
in 1961 (Sir Terence from 1993, Lord Higgins since 1997).
Higgins studied at Girton College, University of Cambridge
receiving her B.A.
in 1959 and LL.B in 1962. She was Harkness Fellow in 1959-61. As well as her undergraduate degrees she also qualified with a M.A. She continued her studies at Yale University
earning a J.S.D
. Her competence has been recognised by other academic institutions, having received over thirteen honorary doctorates, as well as the Yale Law School
Medal of Merit and also the Manley O. Hudson Medal.
Following her education Higgins was a practising barrister
, and became a Queen's Counsel
in 1986, and is a bencher of the Inner Temple
.
Her professional appointments include:
She is a member of the Institut de droit international
and became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
in 1995. She was appointed, in 1988, Chevalier
dans l'Ordre des Palmes académiques. In 2007 she was awarded the Balzan Prize
for International Law since 1945.
Dame Rosalyn is the author of several influential works on international law, including Problems and Process: International Law and How We Use It (1994).
Despite delivering many balanced judgements in different cases, Higgin's dissenting opinion in the ICJ's advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or the Use of Nuclear Weapons has been widely criticised by the legal scholars, for it provides the sovereign states with an unjustifiable amount of latitude in resort to the use of nuclear weapons in times of armed conflict.
In October 2009 she was appointed advisor on International Law
, to the British government’s inquiry into the Iraq war (Headed by Sir John Chilcot
).
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(b. in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 1937) is the former President of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
. Higgins was the first female judge to be appointed to the ICJ, and was elected President in 2006. Her term of office expired on 6 February 2009. She was succeeded as President by Judge Hisashi Owada
Hisashi Owada
is a former Japanese diplomat and a judge on the International Court of Justice, and currently serves as its President, having been elected to this post in 2009.-Early life:Hisashi Owada was born in Shibata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. After earning a B.A...
, and Sir Christopher Greenwood
Christopher Greenwood
Sir Christopher John Greenwood CMG QC is a duly elected member of the International Court of Justice. He is a barrister and professor of international law at the London School of Economics...
was elected in her place as Judge in the International Court of Justice.
Life
Born to a Jewish family in 1937 as Rosalyn Cohen, she married the politicianTerence Higgins
Terence Higgins, Baron Higgins
Terence Langley Higgins, Baron Higgins KBE DL PC is a British Conservative politician.He was Member of Parliament for Worthing from 1964 to 1997, and Financial Secretary to the Treasury between 1972 and 1974....
in 1961 (Sir Terence from 1993, Lord Higgins since 1997).
Education and career
She was elected to the Court as of 12 July 1995, re-elected as of 6 February 2000 and ended her second term on 6 February 2009.Higgins studied at Girton College, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
receiving her B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1959 and LL.B in 1962. She was Harkness Fellow in 1959-61. As well as her undergraduate degrees she also qualified with a M.A. She continued her studies at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
earning a J.S.D
Doctor of Juridical Science
Doctor of Juridical Science, Doctor of the Science of Law, Scientiae Juridicae Doctor , abbreviated J.S.D. or S.J.D., is a research doctorate in law and equivalent to the PhD It is offered primarily in the United States, where it originated, and in Canada...
. Her competence has been recognised by other academic institutions, having received over thirteen honorary doctorates, as well as the Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
Medal of Merit and also the Manley O. Hudson Medal.
Following her education Higgins was a practising barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, and became a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1986, and is a bencher of the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
Her professional appointments include:
- Specialist in International Law, Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1963- 1974
- Visiting Fellow, London School of EconomicsLondon School of EconomicsThe London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, 1974-1978 - Professor of International Law, University of Kent at CanterburyUniversity of KentThe University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
, 1978-1981 - Professor of International Law, University of LondonUniversity of London-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(London School of EconomicsLondon School of EconomicsThe London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
), 1981-1995. - Vice President, British Institute of International and Comparative Law
She is a member of the Institut de droit international
Institut de droit international
The Institut de droit international is an organization devoted to the study and development of international law, whose membership comprises the world's leading public international lawyers...
and became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1995. She was appointed, in 1988, Chevalier
Chevalier
Chevalier is a class of membership in a French Order of Chivalry or order of merit.* a member of the Ordre National du Mérite* a rank in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres* a rank in the Legion d'honneur* a member of the Order of Palmes académiques...
dans l'Ordre des Palmes académiques. In 2007 she was awarded the Balzan Prize
Balzan Prize
The International Balzan Prize Foundation awards four annual monetary prizes to people or organisations who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, culture, as well as for endeavours for peace and the brotherhood of man.-Rewards and assets:Each year the...
for International Law since 1945.
Dame Rosalyn is the author of several influential works on international law, including Problems and Process: International Law and How We Use It (1994).
Despite delivering many balanced judgements in different cases, Higgin's dissenting opinion in the ICJ's advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or the Use of Nuclear Weapons has been widely criticised by the legal scholars, for it provides the sovereign states with an unjustifiable amount of latitude in resort to the use of nuclear weapons in times of armed conflict.
In October 2009 she was appointed advisor on International Law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
, to the British government’s inquiry into the Iraq war (Headed by Sir John Chilcot
John Chilcot
The Rt. Hon. Sir John Chilcot, GCB, PC is a Privy Counsellor and former civil servant. His appointment as chair of an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the March 2003 invasion of Iraq and its aftermath was announced in June 2009....
).
Personal titles
- Miss Rosalyn Cohen (1937-1961)
- Mrs Terence Higgins (1961-1986)
- Mrs Terence Higgins, QC (1986-1993)
- Lady Higgins, QC (1993-1995)
- Her Excellency Dame Rosalyn Higgins, DBE, QC (1995-1997)
- Her Excellency the Baroness Higgins, DBE, QC (1997-present)
External links
- ICJ Biography of H.E. President Rosalyn Higgins
- Who's Who in Public International Law 2007
- Belgium/Netherlands Iron Rhine Award and XXVII UNRIAA 35 and Award Series
- Professor Edith Brown Weiss and Charles Brower and ICJ Presidents H.E. Rosalyn Higgins and H.E. Stephen M. Schwebel at the 104th ASIL Annual Dinner of 26 March 2010 in Ritz Carlton in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and 104th ASIL Annual Dinner's Video in 104th ASIL Videos - ICJ Presidents H.E. Rosalyn Higgins and H.E. Stephen M. SchwebelStephen M. SchwebelStephen Myron Schwebel is an American jurist and expert on international law. He is well known for his separate and dissenting opinions as a Judge of the International Court of Justice 1981-2000 and for his involvement in many cases of the ICSID and Permanent Court of Arbitration.-Biography:Judge...
at The Function of International Law Conference in Cambridge on 11-12 July 2008 and 25th Lauterpacht Centre's Anniversary - 6th IDI Commission on The Position of International Judge of the Institute of International Law and IDI Members
- Manley O. Hudson Awards and 26 January 2009
- ICJ Presidents H.E. Rosalyn Higgins and H.E. Stephen M. SchwebelStephen M. SchwebelStephen Myron Schwebel is an American jurist and expert on international law. He is well known for his separate and dissenting opinions as a Judge of the International Court of Justice 1981-2000 and for his involvement in many cases of the ICSID and Permanent Court of Arbitration.-Biography:Judge...
at the ILSA-ASIL Gala Dinner Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Philip JessupPhilip JessupPhilip Caryl Jessup was a diplomat, scholar, and jurist from New York City.- Early life and education :Philip C. Jessup, the grandson of Henry Harris Jessup, received his undergraduate degree from Hamilton College in 1919. He then went on to earn a law degree from Yale Law School in 1924 and a Ph.D...
Moot Court Competition on 27 March 2009 and Jessup's 50th Anniversary Honorary Committee and 50th Jessup Video and 50th Jessup Programme and Prize for "Best Jessup Oralist" Launched in Honour of Former ICJ President Stephen M. Schwebel at the 103rd ASIL Annual Meeting on International Law as Law, Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, 25-28 March 2009 - U.S. Legal Adviser Harold Hongju KohHarold Hongju KohHarold Hongju Koh is an Korean American lawyer and legal scholar. He currently serves as the Legal Adviser of the Department of State. He was nominated to his current position by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2009, and confirmed by the Senate on June 25, 2009.In public service, Koh...
's Membership, along with i.a. H.E. Former ICJ President Stephen M. SchwebelStephen M. SchwebelStephen Myron Schwebel is an American jurist and expert on international law. He is well known for his separate and dissenting opinions as a Judge of the International Court of Justice 1981-2000 and for his involvement in many cases of the ICSID and Permanent Court of Arbitration.-Biography:Judge...
, in the U.S. National Group of the PCA which on 18 June 2010 nominated U.S. Principal Deputy Legal Adviser Joan E. Donoghue to be the second - after ICJ President Rosalyn Higgins - woman Judge in the International Court of Justice's history and U.S. Foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton's Congratulations - Visual Wikipedia of H.E. Judge Rosalyn Higgins
- Wikipedia Citations of H.E. Baroness Higgins' Views