The Hague Academy of International Law - General Course Lectures
Judicial Communication - A Global Visit of the Webpages of National and International Courts
Burkhard Hess
Judicial Communication - A Global Visit of the Webpages of National and International Courts
Judicial communication aims at making justice understandable and accessible by proactively engaging the wider public through courts' physical spaces and digital presence. The lecture spans a comparative look at court architecture as civic symbols and a survey of court websites worldwide, including their content, functions, multilingual access, user experience design, and use of social media. It highlights the emergence of communication as a core judicial task and the profound changes driven by digitalisation, including transparency practices and public-facing narratives. Procedurally, it covers the institutionalisation of communication within judiciaries, such as spokespersons, guidelines, and media strategies, and situates these developments within comparative procedural law research. Key hurdles include balancing openness with judicial independence and neutrality, safeguarding privacy and data protection, addressing the digital divide and misinformation risks, and managing resource constraints.
With the courtesy of the Hague Academy of International Law
Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary General
Strategic Litigation - A New Phenomenon in International Dispute Resolution
Burkhard Hess
Strategic Litigation: A New Phenomenon in dispute Resolution?
Examples, Tactics, and Procedural Challenges
Strategic litigation aimes at societal and legal changes through lawsuits often organized and funded by NGOs, communities, and ombudspersons rather than individuals alone. The lecture spans examples from the Belgian deportees before Mixed Arbitral Tribunals in the 1920s to modern climate cases like KlimaSeniorinnen, Juliana v US, Neubauer v Germany, and the ICJ's Advisory Opinion in 2025. It highlights the professionalisation of NGOs and media-focused communication using individual narratives. Procedurally, it covers collectivization models driven by EU developments and corporate due diligence, with civil liability frameworks, and addresses forum choice strategies. Key hurdles include the limited standing of NGOs, their role of amici curiae, and anti-SLAPP safeguards.
With the courtesy of the Hague Academy of International Law
Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary General
