The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and plays a central role in both the peaceful settlement of international disputes and the development of international law. This first ever comprehensive Commentary on the Statute of the International Court of Justice analyzes in detail not only the Statute of the Court itself but also the related provisions of the United Nations Charter as well as the relevant provisions of the Court's Rules of Procedure. It also includes four scene-setting chapters: Historical Introduction,, Relationship with Other International Courts and Tribunals, General Principles of Procedural Law, and Discontinuation and Withdrawal. The combination of expert editors and commentators and the central importance of the work of the ICJ will make this a landmark publication in the field of international law.