On 3 April 2025, Dov Jacobs was appointed as Associate Counsel at the International Criminal Court in the case of former President of the Republic of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who was surrendered to the Court on 12 March 2025. Dov Jacobs was previously on the Defence team of Laurent Gbagbo, former President of Ivory Coast.
This case raises several crucial issues, most notably at this early stage of the proceedings, the question of whether the Court can exercise jurisdiction over a State which is not a party to the International Criminal Court, the Republic of the Philippines having withdrawn in 2019. On this basis the Defence filed a challenge to the jurisdiction of the Court that is currently being considered by the Judges.
The confirmation of charges hearing is expected to take place on 23 September 2025.
