Kuala Lampur, Feb. 20 -- The Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) notes with grave concern the Executive Order of US President Donald Trump entitled "Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court" dated February 6, 2025 (the Executive Order).

The CLA agrees with the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, that the Executive Order is "a direct attack on the international justice system".

The CLA notes the first principle of the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, which states:

The independence of the judiciary shall be guaranteed by the State and enshrined in the Constitution or the law of the country. It is the duty of all governmental and other instituti...