The president of the World Court, Hisashi Owada, will visit the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law as the 2010 Bright International Jurist in Residence.

During his stay from Feb. 16 to 20, Owada will visit law school classes, meet with faculty and UH officials, and address the federal and state bar associations.

The 77-year-old Owada was elected president of the United Nations' highest judicial organ in February 2009. The tribunal adjudicates disputes between U.N. member states and gives advisory opinions to the world body.

Owada studied at the University of Tokyo and at Cambridge in England before joining the Japanese foreign service, where he held numerous diplomatic posts. He joined the World Court in 2003.