Court strikes down Trump’s order against ICC personnel

A U.S. federal district court in Maine has blocked an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that imposed sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The order, signed in February 2025, prohibited U.S. citizens and companies from providing any professional services — including legal consulting, expert analysis, or translation — to ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, particularly in cases involving U.S. nationals or allies such as Israel.

Judge Nancy Torresen ruled that the executive order violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and constitutes an unlawful restriction on free expression. In her decision, she emphasized that the government may not criminalize professional speech, even when it supports the work of international institutions like the ICC.

The lawsuit was filed by a group of human rights advocates and legal professionals who argued that the order placed unlawful restrictions on legitimate international legal work. The court agreed, declaring the order unconstitutional and permanently barring its enforcement.

The executive order followed arrest warrants issued by Prosecutor Karim Khan for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes. In response, the Trump administration imposed personal sanctions on Khan and other ICC officials, including travel bans and potential asset freezes.