ICC Judges Sue Trump Administration Over Sanctions in Manhattan Federal Court

Three judges at the International Criminal Court have filed a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump and his administration, challenging sanctions imposed on them last year and arguing the measures were illegal.

In a complaint submitted to federal court in Manhattan, judges Kimberly Prost of Canada, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, and Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou of Benin allege that the sanctions were intended to apply pressure outside legal channels and were used to punish and coerce judicial decision-making.

The State Department, Treasury Department, and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the filing.

The Trump administration previously sanctioned multiple ICC judges last year in what it described as a response to the court’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and an earlier investigation into alleged war crimes involving US forces in Afghanistan.

The sanctions have significant financial and logistical consequences, restricting access to banking systems and limiting the ability of designated individuals to carry out ordinary financial transactions, particularly where US-linked institutions are involved.

The International Criminal Court, established in 2002, is mandated to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes when member states are involved or when cases are referred by the United Nations Security Council.

While the court has jurisdiction across its 125 member states, several major countries — including the United States, China, Russia, and Israel — do not recognize its authority.