ents and opinions are both in
Cases are brought before the court either by the notification
to it of a special agreement concluded by the parties or by the
unilateral action of one of them through a written appeal to the
registrar. Its proceedings are in two parts, written and oral.
The Court may also hear witnesses and appoint commissions of
experts to make investigations and reports when necessary. These
procedures were used in the Corfu Channel, Temple of Preah Vihear and
in South West Africa(1966). The deliberation of the court are held in
private, but the judgements, which are by majority vote, are read in
open court. In the case of a tie, the President may cast a deciding
vote; this was done in the South West Africa Case where a 7-7 vote was
cast. Any judge may file a separate opinion if he does not agree in
whole or part with the judgement. The decision of the court is final
Although the ICJ has no enforcement powers, Article 94 of the
Charter incorporates an undertaking on the part of each member of the
UN "to comply with the decision of the ... court...in any case to
which it is a party" and a further provision that:
IF any party to a case fails to perform the obligations
...