Peter Tomka

Peter Tomka (born June 1, 1956), is a Slovak diplomat and has served as a Judge on the International Court of Justice since 2003.

Early life and education

He was born in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. He earned L.L.M. and Ph.D. degrees from Charles University in Prague in 1979 and 1985 respectively. In addition, he has also undertaken studies at the Faculty of International Law and International Relations in Kiev, Ukraine, at the Institut du droit de la paix et du developpement in Nice, France, at the Institute of International Public Law and International Relations in Thessaloniki, Greece, and the Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands.

Career

In 1986, he joined Czechoslovakia's Foreign Ministry as an Assistant Legal Adviser, and in 1990 was promoted to Head of the Ministry's Public International Law Division. The following year, he was transferred to the country's United Nations Mission, where he served as Legal Adviser. Following the division of Czechoslovakia, he served as Slovakia's Deputy Permanent Representative from 1993 to 1994. From 1994 to 1997, he served as Slovakia's Ambassador to the United Nations. Returning to the Foreign Ministry, he served as Director of the International Law Department from 1997 to 1998, when he transferred to the post of Director-General for International Legal and Consular Affairs. After a year in that post, he was reappointed as Slovakia's UN Ambassador, serving until his appointment to the Court. He also held a seat on the International Law Commission between 1999 and 2002.

In parallel to his ICJ Membership, Judge Tomka served in 2005 as an Arbitrator of the Belgium/Netherlands Iron Rhine Tribunal, which was presided over by ICJ Judge Rosalyn Higgins and since 2007 Judge Tomka is a Member of the ICSID MHS v. Malaysia Sunken Treasure (Annulment of the 2007 Award) Committee, which also comprises ICJ Judges Stephen M. Schwebel (President) and Mohamed Shahabuddeen.

References

* [http://www.icj-cij.org/court/index.php?p1=1&p2=2&p3=1&judge=15 International Court of Justice Biography]
* [http://www.crestwall.com/ Who's Who in Public International Law 2007]
* [http://www.pca-cpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=1155 Belgium/Netherlands Iron Rhine Award] and [http://www.un.org/law/riaa/ XXVII UNRIAA 35] and [http://www.pca-cpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=1056 Award Series]
* [http://icsid.worldbank.org/ICSID/FrontServlet ICSID MHS v. Malaysia Sunken Treasure (Annulment of the 2007 Award) Committee] and [http://www.globalarbitrationreview.com/news/article/4150/schwebel-chair-%20malaysian-annulment-hearing GAR]