Kimberly Prost, a Canadian judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC), along with two colleagues, is taking legal action against former President Donald Trump. They allege the sanctions imposed by his administration exceeded his authority and were retaliatory.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, aims to challenge the measures seen as efforts to weaken international law. Experts suggest the case could limit the U.S. government’s ability to sanction judges for undesirable rulings.
Judge Prost, Reine Alapini-Gansou from Benin, and Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda have joined forces in this legal battle. Their complaint was shared with The New York Times by a lawyer representing the judges.
In February 2025, the Trump administration sanctioned these judges over ICC investigations into actions by Israelis and Americans. Neither country is a member of the ICC, which prosecutes major international crimes, such as genocide.
Throughout the year, the list of sanctioned judges expanded. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced further sanctions in June, targeting judges like Alapini-Gansou and Bossa for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.