With two permanent judges and one ad litem judge intending to resign upon the completion of their cases this year, the Tribunal’s President had sought an extension, to 31 December 2009, for nine permanent judges and eight ad litem judges, whose terms of office are to expire on 31 December 2008. As a contingency against the unexpected, he also sought an extension to 31 December 2009 of the terms of the remaining nine ad litem judges who were not yet appointed to serve at the Tribunal.