There are many analyses concerning the decline of international institutions like the U.N., and much of this analysis is well-founded. But it is also insufficient. Few of these analyses examine the failures of these institutions like the UN or the International Criminal Court (ICC) when the great powers are not involved. Moreover, too often we forget that institutions are led by people who frequently are not up to the responsibilities that their high office entails.

Sadly, the record of Luis Ocampo, former prosecutor for the ICC, epitomizes this point.  In this role, Ocampo launched a case in proprio motu, of his own accord, in 2007, against members of Kenya’s government for alleged crimes, including genocide, in conjunction with Kenyan elections and post-election violence.  Unfortunately, these cases fell apart and could not be brought to prosecution.  The ICC’s own subsequent review of the failure of Ocampo’s investigation excoriated him for multiple prosecutorial failings. 

Among these failings, the report cited Ocampo’s autocratic management style, poor management skills, and his attempts to browbeat his staff into giving him the results he wanted.  Ocampo reportedly“instilled an attitude that the Office of the Prosecutor must go forward with the Kenya cases, must save the cases, regardless of the evidentiary gaps, and that any other view was disloyal.” The........

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