Permanent Court of International Justice

• The case name should be written in italics as it appears on the first page of the report, except that:

• introductory articles such as ‘The’ and the words ‘Case’ or ‘Case Concerning’ should be omitted;
• full stops should not be used in abbreviations; and
• capitalisation should adhere to the Capitalisation rule.

• The names of countries in the case name should not be abbreviated (for example, use ‘United Kingdom’ and ‘United States’ as appears on the title page of the case report).
• However, parties' names may be abbreviated when including them in parentheses after the case name.

• The names of the parties should be italicised and included within parentheses, following the case name.
• The names may be abbreviated here (for example, US and UK).
• Where there is more than one party on one side, only the name of the first party should be used (for example, New Zealand v France, NOT New Zealand and Greenpeace v France).

• Where applicable, the phase of the action should be italicised and included within parentheses after the parties’ names. Phases include:

• Jurisdiction
• Judgment
• Merits
• Oral/Written Pleadings of <State>
• Orders
• Preliminary Objections

• The year should be included before the name of the publication in square brackets.
• Where there is more than one volume produced in the year, the volume number should also be included, immediately after the year.
• The series should also be indicated.

• Cases of the PCIJ should be cited by the case number rather than starting page.

• Page numbers should be used for pinpoints.
• Paragraph numbers should only be used where page numbers are not available, such as if the case is only available online.
• The correct page number is the number at the top of the page, being the higher number, that does not start again.

• Where there are numerous dissenting judgments, all to be cited in one footnote, there is no need to repeat the citation (or internet address).

The following format should be used:

<Case Name> (<Parties’ Names>) (Phase) [Year] ICJ Rep <Starting page>, <Pinpoint> (Separate Opinion of Judge <Name>); <Pinpoint> (Separate Opinion of Judge <Name>).

• When citing an advisory opinion, the phrase ‘(Advisory Opinion)’ should be placed where the phase would normally be, immediately after the case name and in place of the parties' names.