Abstract The suspension of pending proceedings is a common feature of international dispute settlement. Although its precise operation varies across different institutions, it is possible to infer some common features that distinguish suspension from similar practices. For its part, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had never suspended proceedings in any case in its 80-year-old history until late 2024. This article analyses the possible reasons for the lack of ICJ practice in the area, and it examines the alternative avenues employed by the ICJ to achieve the same results as suspension. Against this background, the article argues that a number of questions remain as to the scope and legal effect of suspension on the powers and duties of the litigant parties, third parties, and the ICJ itself.
Nikiforos Panagis (Wed,) studied this question.