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country, the Court has always included judges of the nationality of the permanent members of the Security
Council.
Once elected, a Member of the Court is a delegate neither of the government of his own country nor of
that of any other State. Unlike most other organs of international organizations, the Court is not composed
of representatives of governments. Members of the Court are independent judges whose first task, before
taking up their duties, is to make a solemn declaration in open court that they will exercise their powers
impartially and conscientiously.
In order to guarantee his or her independence, no Member of the Court can be dismissed unless, in the
unanimous opinion of the other Members, he/she no longer fulfils the required conditions. This has in fact
never happened.
No Member of the Court may engage in any other occupation during his/her term. He/she is not
allowed to exercise any political or administrative function, nor to act as agent, counsel or advocate in any
case. Any doubts with regard to this question are settled by decision of the Court.
A Member of the Court, when engaged on the business of the Court, enjoys privileges and immunities
comparable with those of the head of a diplomatic mission. In The Hague, the President takes precedence
over the doyen of the diplomatic corps, after which precedence alternates between judges and ambassadors.
Each Member of the Court receives an annual salary consisting of a base salary (which for 2010 amounts to
US$166,596) and post adjustment, with a special supplementary allowance of US$15,000 for the President.
The post adjustment multiplier changes every month and is dependent on the UN exchange rate between the
US Dollar and the Euro. On leaving the Court, they receive annual pensions which, after a nine-year term of
office, amount to 50 per cent of the annual base salary.
Although the Court is deemed to be permanently in session, only its President is obliged to reside in
The Hague. However, the other Members of the Court are required to be permanently at its disposal except
during judicial vacations or leave of absence, or when they are prevented from attending by illness or other
serious reasons. In practice, the majority of Court Members reside in The Hague and all will normally spend
the greater part of the year there.

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