ICC Judges Sue Trump Administration Over Sanctions

On 24 June 2026 ICC judges Kimberly Prost (Canada), Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda) and Reine Alapini-Gansou (Benin) filed a complaint in the Southern District of New York challenging sanctions issued under Executive Order 14203 (Feb 2025). They describe the measures as a “financial death penalty” aimed at punishing their rulings on Afghanistan and Israel war-crime investigations.

Brussels Signal

Executive Order 14203 declared a national emergency over ICC probes of U.S. and Israeli officials, authorising OFAC to freeze assets and block dollar transactions. The Trump administration first sanctioned ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and later added at least eight judges and other officials, citing threats to U.S. sovereignty.

Three ICC judges sue U.S. President Trump over sanctions

Prost’s HSBC account, Bossa’s UN Federal Credit Union account and Alapini-Gansou’s French credit-card account were frozen. All lost U.S. credit cards, could not buy dollars, and were barred from Amazon, Google and Expedia. Each reports loss of health-insurance; Alapini-Gansou must travel with a security detail and cannot walk freely to the ICC.

Middle East Eye

The judges claim the order exceeds the International Emergency Economic Powers Act because no genuine emergency exists, breaches the Fifth Amendment’s due-process and takings clauses, conflicts with the American Service-Members’ Protection Act, and is arbitrary under the Administrative Procedure Act. Trump argues the U.S. is not a Rome Statute party and that the ICC “maligns” U.S. interests, posing an “unusual and extraordinary” security threat. The White House says the sanctions were lawfully imposed and will be defended.

JURIST

James Goldston of Open Society Justice Initiative called the sanctions “an unprecedented attack on judicial independence and the rule of law.” Andrew Loewenstein said the regime is “the antithesis of the rule of law,” coercing judges into prioritising personal interests.

Common Dreams

Sources differ on the number sanctioned—some cite eight judges, others eleven individuals including prosecutors and NGOs. Insurance loss is confirmed for Prost and Alapini-Gansou but not for Bossa.

Middle East Eye

• “Targeting international judges for carrying out their judicial duties is an unprecedented attack on judicial independence and the rule of law,” — James Goldston, Open Society Justice Initiative

JURIST

• “Being subjected to such sanctions under IEEPA is tantamount to the financial death penalty.” — Complaint, 2026

Reuters

• “This sanctions regime is the antithesis of the rule of law,” — Andrew Loewenstein, Lead Counsel

Common Dreams

• “The sanctions seek to compel these judges to refrain from their sworn oath, to decide cases on the basis of an impartial assessment of the facts and the law,” — Complaint, 2026

Middle East Eye

The judges seek an injunction halting the sanctions and a declaration of unconstitutionality, plus cost reimbursement. A ruling could limit U.S. extraterritorial sanctions and shape future U.S.–ICC relations.

WION