Today, the Judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) began their 21st Plenary Session, which will run for three days, closing on the afternoon of Wednesday, 17 November 1999.

The focus of the session will be the election of the new President of the Tribunal to replace Judge Gabrielle Kirk McDonald, who leaves the court on Wednesday, and a new Vice-President who will be chosen to replace Judge Mohamed Shahabuddeen.

Judge Patricia M. Wald from the United States will be sworn in as a new judge on Wednesday to serve the remainder of Judge McDonald’s term.

In addition, the composition of the new Trial Chambers will be decided. Further results of the Plenary will be announced in due time.

_________________________

Please find below a brief biographical note of Judge Patricia Wald:

Judge Wald was born in 1928 and is a graduate of Connecticut College (B.A. 1948) and Yale Law School (LL.B. 1951) and was admitted to the Bar in 1952. She served, among other positions, as a law clerk to Judge Jerome N. Frank of the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals and as Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs in the Department of Justice prior to being appointed to the bench in 1979. Judge Wald has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since July 1979, serving as Chief Judge of the Court from July 1986 to January 1991. Judge Wald is a Council Member and First Vice President of the American Law Institute and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.