Alumni Spotlight: Judge Tomoko Akane, President of the International Criminal Court

By Katie Edwards

The Office of Alumni Engagement is honored to spotlight one of Jacksonville State University’s most distinguished alumni: Judge Tomoko Akane, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC). From Nagoya, Japan, Judge Akane earned her Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Jax State in December 1990. She currently resides in The Hague, the Netherlands, where she leads the ICC at a pivotal moment in international justice.

As president of the ICC, Judge Akane plays a vital role in leading the court through an increasingly complex global landscape. “Everything is challenging,” she shares. “The International Criminal Court is an international judicial body, operating in a global climate that is easily politicized. We are doing our work to bring justice to the victims of atrocity, with impartial and independent judges.”

Judge Akane’s path to international law began long before her time at Jax State. As a young prosecutor in Japan, she was inspired by a scholar at the University of Hawaii who encouraged her to think globally. She chose Jax State for its strong graduate program in criminal justice—one of the few in the U.S. offering a master’s degree in the field at the time. “It opened my new horizon,” she recalls. “The professors were friendly and knowledgeable. I especially remember Dr. Lester Hill, the husband of my friend Michiko. Though he was not my professor, I learned a lot from him personally.”

Looking back, Judge Akane emphasizes that her career has been built step by step. Now halfway through her term as ICC President, she reflects on the importance of leadership during turbulent times: “Under these circumstances, more than ever, stable and unified leadership at the ICC is important. We often communicate and coordinate all the organs at the ICC. It is not so easy, but we are trying tirelessly.”

Just six days after Judge Akane was elected president of the ICC (March 2023), the court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for the forced deportations of more than 16,000 Ukrainian children to Russia. According to the Kyiv Independent, within days, Russia's Investigative Committee said that it had opened a case against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan and judges Tomoko Akane, Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez, and Rosario Salvatore Aitala—including all three judges and Khan on the Russian Internal Ministry's wanted persons list.

When asked how the ICC maintains focus amid high-profile and politically charged cases, she offered a simple but powerful answer: “Just stay calm and devote ourselves to our judicial work. Judges will not express their opinions outside the courtroom. That is all we can do. And the leadership, like me, has the voice to explain our roles and missions.”

Judge Akane also sees a meaningful role for educational institutions like Jacksonville State in advancing the ICC’s mission. “Even though the U.S. is not a State Party to the Rome Statute, there are many scholars and students who study international law. As an educational institution, it is recommendable to continue encouraging students to pursue their own way and learn whatever they want, as long as they appreciate broadly recognized values such as democracy, freedom of expression, and human rights.”

Judge Akane offers thoughtful advice to students dreaming of careers in law, diplomacy, or public service: “Before you decide your path, stop for a while and think about your future. What kind of person do you want to be after ten years, or twenty years? Your future can be determined by yourself. Any profession is precious if it contributes to society. The key is: What do you want to do? Youth will save the U.S. and the global society.”

We proudly recognize Judge Tomoko Akane as an example of excellence, service, and global impact. Her commitment to justice and her deep connection to Jax State continue to inspire our university community and beyond.