Rules and Procedures
I. Overview
This document outlines the customized rules and procedures for the functioning of the ICJ
committee at VERUSMUN 2025. Recognizing the unique format of the International Court of
Justice, these protocols are tailored to support rigorous legal debate and accurate
documentation, ensuring clarity of roles and workflow for all participants. The procedures
also reflect best practices utilized in ICJ simulations, focusing on the roles of Advocates,
Judges, and Legal Experts.
II. Types of Portfolios
There are three key portfolio roles in this ICJ simulation:
1. Advocates
● Responsibilities:
○ Represent the parties to the dispute (FOR/AGAINST the main contention).
○ Prepare and present oral and written arguments (“memorials”).
○ Debate the facts, law, and merits of the case.
○ Submit all evidence and exhibits to the Executive Board one day prior to the
committee session.
● Structure:
○ Divided into two teams:
■ Against: Initiate debate, present their stance and legal arguments
first.
■ For: Defend their position in response, produce counter-arguments,
and uphold their legal case.
● Documentation: Format for written submissions will be issued by the Executive
Board on 31st July 2025.
2. Judges
● Responsibilities:
○ Observe, thoroughly analyze, and critically assess the submissions and orals
of both parties.
○ Lead cross-questioning of Advocates from both FOR and AGAINST sides.
○ May ask questions during the debate to clarify arguments or challenge
legal/factual assertions.
○ After proceedings:
■ Deliberate and formulate a majority opinion (judgment), accompanied
by separate concurring or dissenting opinions if any.
■ State judgment in both verbal (oral) and documented (written) format.
● Documentation: All written opinions (majority, concurring, dissenting) to be drafted
and submitted on Day 2 of committee.
3. Legal Experts
● Responsibilities:
○ Serve as neutral rapporteurs.
○ Prepare a verbatim transcript of all proceedings, accurately capturing
exchange between Advocates (FOR and AGAINST) and Judges.
○ Produce an independent legal analysis of the entire agenda, referencing all
relevant statutes, conventions, and documents. This analysis should consider
and compare both sides’ arguments before providing a legally sound stance.
○ Documentation and verbal analysis is both contemporaneous (as the
committee progresses) and a formal submission on Day 2.
III. Committee Workflow and Documentation
1. Evidence Submission by Advocates:
○ All documentary evidence, exhibits, statutes, and legal authorities to be
submitted electronically to the Executive Board at least one day before the
committee convenes.
2. Committee Proceedings:
○ DAY 1: Oral pleadings begin with the Against side (Accused/Respondents),
followed by For side (Prosecution/Applicants).
○ Cross-questioning by Judges after each round of presentations.
○ Legal Experts begin verbatim recording.
3. Second Day Documentation:
○ Judges and Legal Experts complete and submit written judgments, opinions,
analyses, and full verbatim records by the end of Day 2 while presenting them
in a verbal form aswell.
4. Admissible Chits:
○ Only “Point of Order” chits are accepted—delegates may submit a chit to the
dais/Executive Board pointing out objective factual or legal inaccuracies.
○ No other forms of chit-passing (e.g., clarifications, direct Q/A, personal notes)
are permitted.
IV. Key Structural Features
● Initiation of Debate: Advocates on the AGAINST side start the debate and present
their case first.
● Order and Ethical Conduct: All participants are expected to maintain courtroom
decorum, act with impartiality (in the case of Judges/Legal Experts), and adhere
strictly to factual accuracy.
● Questioning: Judges have full authority to interrogate both advocacy teams. They
may seek clarification, probe logic or law, and test evidence.
● Documentation by Role:
○ Advocates: Submit memorials/pleadings in specified format (issued July 31)
and pre-submit exhibits.
○ Judges: Produce majority/dissenting/detailed opinions (documented by Day
2).
○ Legal Experts: Submit full verbatim plus a comprehensive, cited legal analysis
(documented by Day 2).
V. Specific Rules and Expectations
1. Strict Evidentiary Process:
○ Only exhibits and legal authorities pre-approved and pre-submitted may be
referenced in pleadings.
2. Admissibility of Arguments:
○ Arguments should cite relevant treaties, ICJ/ICTY cases, and international
conventions.
3. Cross-Examination:
○ Judges are encouraged to challenge both facts and legal reasoning via direct
questions.
4. Bindingness of Judges’ Opinions:
○ The majority written and oral decision governs the outcome of the committee
and is to be respected as final.
5. Role of Legal Experts:
○ Must remain strictly neutral in verbatim, but analysis section should reflect a
reasoned, evidence-based stance on the agenda.
VI. Timelines & Submission Calendar
● Advocate Evidence/Exhibits Submission: One day prior to Day 1
● Advocate Documentation Format Released: July 31, 2025
● Written Opinions & Verbatim Submission (Judges/Legal Experts): By Day 2
committee closing
VII. Guidance for All Portfolios
● Preparation: Study all statutes, conventions, cases, and committee research
materials.
● Citation: All documentation must rigorously cite international law (ICJ, ICTY/ICTR,
Rome Statute, Genocide Convention, ARSIWA, etc.).
● Professionalism: Polite and orderly conduct is required at all times.
VIII. Support and Contact
The Executive Board will ensure all instructions, formats, and clarifications are timely and
accessible. Questions or doubts may be addressed at any stage—never hesitate to ask for
procedural help.
