>From the BBC:
>Wednesday, 27 June, 2001, 11:23 GMT 12:23 UK
>Court rules against US over executions
>The World Court has ruled against the United States for ignoring the
>international legal rights of two German-born brothers executed for murder
>in Arizona.
>Germany filed a case with the court, arguing that US officials had violated
>the Vienna Convention by not informing German consular officials of the
>arrest and conviction of the brothers.
>Germany said that meant a denial of consular representation that might have
>saved their lives.
Actually, this is an incredibly significant ruling since it also said that the ruling was binding on the US - although a bit tough for the two men already executed, so the World Court could work on its speed. Some World Court decisions are largely advisory but this one appears to actually be arguing for preemption of US law in favor of its own ruling.
The interesting question is what sanction will be applied to the US for its failure to follow the Vienna Convention, if any.
-- Nathan Newman