The U.N. court that settles disputes among member states has sworn in new judges from the United States and China to join the 15—member bench.
Joan Donoghue was the top legal adviser on international law to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, including issues related to interrogations at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre.
Ms. Donoghue also advised the government on human rights law, and has been involved in several cases at the International Court of Justice, the U.N.’s highest judicial body.
Before taking her seat on Monday, Xue Hanqin was China’s ambassador to ASEAN, the grouping of Southeast Asian nations, and previously was ambassador to the Netherlands.
It’s the first time the court has two women judges at the same time.
