Manfred Lachs; Longest-Serving Justice on World Court

Manfred Lachs, 77, a former Polish diplomat and the longest-serving justice on the World Court. The Polish-born Lachs served on the U.N. War Crimes Commission at the close of World War II and later as Poland’s delegate to the U.N. General Assembly. Before joining the World Court in 1967, he was Warsaw’s roving ambassador and legal adviser to the Foreign Ministry. Lachs taught at the University of Warsaw and wrote books and articles on the adjudication of war crimes, international arbitration and international law applicable in outer space. The World Court, formally known as the International Court of Justice, is the legal branch of the United Nations. It has no enforcement powers and mainly hears territorial disputes between U.N. member nations. On Thursdayin The Hague of undisclosed causes.