Judges of the Permanent Court of International Justice

The Court initially consisted of 11 judges and 4 deputy judges, recommended by member states of the League of Nations to the Secretary General of the League of Nations, who would put them before the Council and Assembly for election.

Judges were elected by a straight majority vote, held independently in the Council and Assembly.

[1] The judges served for a period of nine years, with their term limits all expiring at the same time, necessitating a completely new set of elections.

As a sign of their independence from national ties, judges were given full diplomatic immunity when engaged in Court business The only requirements for a judge were "high moral character" and that they have "the qualifications required in their respective countries [for] the highest judicial offices" or be "jurisconsults of recognized competence in international law".

[5] Judges continued to hold their posts, despite the Court not sitting for most of the 1940s due to the Second World War, until they resigned en masse in October 1945.