Mexico v. United States of America
Encyclopedia
Mexico v. United States of America, formally Avena and Other Mexican Nationals, was a case before the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) of the United Nations
. It was decided on 31 March 2004, finding that the United States had breached its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
in not allowing representation from Mexico to meet with Mexican citizens arrested and imprisoned for crimes in the United States.
An order indicating provisional measures in the case of Mr. José Ernesto Medellín Rojas
was entered on 16 July 2008, and on 19 January 2009 the ICJ found that the United States breached its obligations under the 16 July order, but also that the Statute of the International Court of Justice
"does not allow it to consider possible violations of the Judgment which it is called upon to interpret."
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
(ICJ) of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. It was decided on 31 March 2004, finding that the United States had breached its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 is an international treaty that defines a framework for consular relations between independent countries...
in not allowing representation from Mexico to meet with Mexican citizens arrested and imprisoned for crimes in the United States.
An order indicating provisional measures in the case of Mr. José Ernesto Medellín Rojas
José Medellín
José Ernesto Medellín, born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, was a Mexican national who was executed for the murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Peña in Texas in the United States....
was entered on 16 July 2008, and on 19 January 2009 the ICJ found that the United States breached its obligations under the 16 July order, but also that the Statute of the International Court of Justice
Statute of the International Court of Justice
The Statute of the International Court of Justice is an integral part of the United Nations Charter, as specified by Chapter XIV of the United Nations Charter...
"does not allow it to consider possible violations of the Judgment which it is called upon to interpret."