Abstract: The article shows the role of the International Court of Justice in maintaining of international legal order. The article includes the historic analysis of the institution of a universal judicial body. The article contains analysis of the the characteristics of this judicial body, which make it the most influential element within the system of maintaining the legal order and compliance with the international law. The author compares it with the arbitration, evaluates the nature of the international legal dispute, the principle of supremacy of law, as well as good faith and compliance with the international legal obligations within the domestic legal order. The article includes analysis of various characteristic features of the ICJ as an international judicial body in comparison with the national judicial bodies of the states. The author also analyzes some aspects of judicial procedure, definitions of rule of law and universal legal order, as well as the key elements and characteristic features of the universal legal order.