Non-Corrigé
Uncorrected
CR 2008/14
International Court Cour internationale
of Justice de Justice
THHEAGUE LHAAYE
YEAR 2008
Public sitting
held on Thursday 19 June 2008, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace,
President Higgins presiding,
in the case concerning the Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 31 March 2004 in
the Case concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America)
(Mexico v. United States of America)
________________
VERBATIM RECORD
________________
ANNÉE 2008
Audience publique
tenue le jeudi 19 juin 2008, à 10 heures, au Palais de la Paix,
sous la présidence de Mme Higgins, président,
en l’affaire relative à la Demande en interprétation de l’arrêt du 31 mars 2004 en l’affaire
Avena et autres ressortissants mexicains (Mexique c. Etats-Unis d’Amérique)
(Mexique c. Etats-Unis d’Amérique)
____________________
COMPTE RENDU
____________________ - 2 -
Present: Presieitgins
Vice-PresiKntasawneh
Judges Ranjeva
Koroma
Buergenthal
Owada
Tomka
Abraham
Keith
Sepúlveda-Amor
Bennouna
Skotnikov
Registrar Couvreur
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ - 3 -
Présents : Mme Higgins,président
Al-K.vsce-prh,ident
RaMjev.
Koroma
Buergenthal
Owada
Tomka
Abraham
Keith
Sepúlveda-Amor
Bennouna
Sjoteiskov,
Cgoefferr,
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ - 4 -
The Government of the United Mexican States is represented by:
Mr. Juan Manuel Gómez-Robledo, Ambassador, Under-Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and
Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico,
Mr. Joel Antonio Hernández García, Ambassador, Legal Adviser, Mi nistry of Foreign Affairs of
Mexico,
Mr. Jorge Lomónaco Tonda, Ambassador of Mexico to the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
as Agents;
Mr. Donald Francis Donovan, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York,
MsSandraBabcock, Clinical Director, Center for International Human Rights, Northwestern
University Law School, Chicago, Illinois,
Mr. Víctor Manuel Uribe Aviña, Deputy Legal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico,
Ms Catherine M. Amirfar, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York,
Mr. Gregory J. Kuykendall, Director of the Mexican Capital Legal Assistance Program,
Mr.Agustín Rodríguez de la Gala, Director for Foreign Litigation, Office of the Legal Adviser,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico,
Mr. Erasmo Lara Cabrera, Legal Counsel, Embassy of Mexico in the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
as Advocates-Counsellors;
Mr. Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Office of the Le gal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Mexico,
Ms Jill van Berg, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York,
as Assistants.
The Government of the United States of America is represented by:
Mr. John B. Bellinger, III, Legal Adviser, United States Department of State,
as Agent;
Mr. James H. Thessin, Deputy Legal Adviser, United States Department of State,
as Co-Agent;
Mr. Stephen Mathias, Assistant Legal Adviser for the Office of Political Military Affairs, United
States Department of State, - 5 -
Le Gouvernement des Etats-Unis du Mexique est représenté par :
S. Exc. M. Juan Manuel Gómez-Robledo, ambassadeur, sous-secrétaire aux affaires multilatérales
et aux droits de l’homme, ministère des affaires étrangères du Mexique,
S. Exc. M.Joel Antonio Hernández García, am bassadeur, conseiller juridique du ministère des
affaires étrangères du Mexique,
S. Exc. M. Jorge Lomónaco Tonda, ambassadeur du Mexique auprès du Royaume des Pays-Bas,
comme agents ;
M. Donald Francis Donovan, cabinet Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York,
MmeSandraL.Babcock, directrice de la Human Rights Clinic, Center for International Human
Rights Northwestern University Law School, Chicago, Illinois,
M. Víctor Manuel Uribe Aviña, conseiller juridi que adjoint du ministère des affaires étrangères du
Mexique,
Mme Catherine Amirfar, cabinet Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York,
M. Gregory J. Kuykendall, directeur du programme d’assistance juridique du Mexique aux
personnes encourant la peine de mort,
M. Agustín Rodríguez de la Gala, directeur ch argé des contentieux à l’étranger au bureau du
conseiller juridique du ministère des affaires étrangères du Mexique,
M. Erasmo A. Lara Cabrera, conseiller juridique à l’ambassade du Mexique aux Pays-Bas,
comme conseils et avocats ;
M. Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, bureau du conseiller juridique, ministère des affaires étrangères du
Mexique,
Mme Jill Van Berg, cabinet Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York,
comme assistants.
Le Gouvernement des Etats-Unis d’Amérique est représenté par :
M. John B. Bellinger, III, conseiller juridique du département d’Etat des Etats-Unis d’Amérique,
comme agent ;
MJ.amesHT. hessin, conseiller juridique ad joint du département d’Etat des Etats-Unis
d’Amérique,
comme coagent ;
M.D. StephenMathias, conseiller juridique adjo int du bureau des affaires politico-militaires du
département d’Etat des Etats-Unis d’Amérique, - 6 -
Professor Vaughan Lowe, Q.C., Chichele Professor of International Law, University of Oxford,
member of the English Bar, associate member of the Institut de droit international,
as Counsel and Advocates;
Mr. Todd F. Buchwald, Assistant Legal Adviser fo r the Office of United Nations Affairs, United
States Department of State,
Ms Rebecca M. S. Ingber, Attorney-Adviser, United States Department of State,
Mr. Daniel P. Kearney, Jr., Special Assistant to the Legal Adviser, United States Department of
State,
Ms Mary Catherine Malin, Assistant Legal Adviser for the Office of Consular Affairs, United
States Department of State,
Ms Denise G. Manning, Deputy Legal Counsellor, Embassy of the United States of America,
The Hague,
Ms Julie B. Martin, Attorney-Adviser, United States Department of State,
Mr. Michael J. Mattler, Attorney-Adviser, Offi ce of United Nations Affairs, United States
Department of State,
Ms Heather A. Schildge, Legal Counsellor, Embassy of the United States of America, The Hague,
Mr. Charles P. Trumbull, Attorney-Adviser, United States Department of State,
as Counsel. - 7 -
M.Vaughan Lowe, Q.C., professeur titulaire de la chaire Chichele de droit international à
l’Université d’Oxford, membre du barreau d’Angl eterre, membre associé de l’Institut de droit
international,
comme conseils et avocats ;
M.Todd F. Buchwald, conseiller juridique adjoint chargé des questions concernant les
Nations Unies au département d’Etat des Etats-Unis d’Amérique,
Mme Rebecca M. S. Ingber, avocat-conseiller au département d’Etat des Etats-Unis d’Amérique,
M. Daniel P. Kearney, Jr., assistant spécial du conseiller juridique du département d’Etat des Etats-
Unis d’Amérique,
Mme Mary Catherine Malin, conseiller juridique adjoint du bureau des affaires consulaires du
département d’Etat des Etats-Unis d’Amérique,
Mme Denise G. Manning, conseiller juridique adjoin t à l’ambassade des Etat s-Unis d’Amérique à
La Haye,
Mme Julie B. Martin, avocat-conseiller au département d’Etat des Etats-Unis d’Amérique,
M.Michael J. Mattler, avocat-conseiller chargé des questions concernant les NationsUnies au
département d’Etat des Etats-Unis d’Amérique,
MmeHeather A.Schildge, conseiller juridique à l’ambassade des Etat s-Unis d’Amérique à
La Haye,
M. Charles P. Trumbull, avocat-conseiller au département d’Etat des Etats-Unis d’Amérique,
commceonseils. - 8 -
The PRESIDENT: Please be seated. The sitting is open. The Court meets today under
Article74, paragraph3, of the Rules of Court, to hear the observations of the Parties on the
Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by the United Mexican States in the
case concerning the Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 31March2004 in the Case
concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America) (Mexico v.
United States of America)..
Judge Shi, for reasons explained to the Cour t, will not sit in the present case. Acting under
Article24, paragraph1, of the Statute, Judg es Parra-Aranguren and Simma have informed the
Court that they will not sit in the present case.
*
* *
The proceedings in the present case were in stituted on 5 June 2008 by the filing in the
Registry of the Court of an Application by Mexico requesting the interpretation of
paragraph 153 (9) of the Judgment delivered by the Court on 31 March 2004 in the case concerning
Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America).
To found the jurisdiction of the Court, Mexico relies in its Application on Article 60 of the
Statute of the Court, which provides that: “In the event of dispute as to the meaning or scope of the
judgment, the Court shall construe it upon the request of any party.”
In its Request for interpretation Mexico recalls that, in paragraph 153(9) of the Avena
Judgment, the Court found that the appropriate reparation in the Avena case consisted of “the
obligation of the United States of America to provide, by means of its own choosing, review and
reconsideration of the convictions and sentences of the Mexican nationals” whose rights under the
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations had been violated. Mexico explains that, on
25March2008, in the case of Mr. José Ernesto Medellín Rojas, one of the Mexican nationals
referred to in the Avena Judgment, the Supreme Court of the United States acknowledged that the
Avena Judgment constitutes an obligation under interna tional law on the part of the United States. - 9 -
However, it ruled that the Avena Judgment does not constitute “directly enforceable federal law
that precluded Texas from applying state pro cedural rules that barred all review and
reconsideration of Mr. Medellín’s Vienna Convention claim”. Mexico notes that the Supreme
Court also indicated alternative means by whic h the United States could still comply with its
obligations under the Avena Judgment, in particular, by the adopt ion of legislation by Congress or
by “voluntary compliance by the state of Texas”. Mexico points out that since the decision of the
Supreme Court, a Texas court has scheduled Mr. Medellín’s execution for 5 August 2008. Mexico
further contends that at least four more Mexican nationals referred to in the Avena Judgment are
also “in imminent danger of having execution dates set by the state of Texas”.
Mexico asserts that it understands the language of paragraph 153 (9) of the Avena Judgment
as establishing “an obligation of result” which is only complied with when review and
reconsideration of the convictions and sentences in question has been completed. According to
Mexico, the United States “[h]aving chosen to i ssue the President’s 2005 determination directing
state courts to comply” with the Avena Judgment, has to date not taken any further action. Thus, it
is Mexico’s position that the United States, by its conduct, has demonstrated its understanding that
paragraph 153 (9) of the Avena Judgment constitutes merely an obligation of means. Mexico
therefore believes that there is a dispute between the Parties as to the scope and meaning of
paragraph 153 (9) of the Avena Judgment.
I shall now ask the Registrar to read out the decision requested of the Court, as formulated in
paragraph 59 of the Application of Mexico:
RTEheISTRAR:
“The Government of Mexico asks the Court to adjudge and declare that the
obligation incumbent upon the United States under paragraph 153 (9) of the Avena
Judgment constitutes an obligation of result as it is clearly stated in the Judgment by
the indication that the United States must provide ‘review and reconsideration of the
convictions and sentences’ but leaving it the ‘means of its own choosing’;
and that, pursuant to the foregoing obligation of result,
1. the United States must take any and all steps necessary to provide the reparation
of review and reconsideration mandated by the Avena Judgment; and
2. the United States must take any and all steps necessary to ensure that no Mexican
national entitled to review and reconsideration under the Avena Judgment is - 10 -
executed unless and until that review and r econsideration is completed and it is
determined that no prejudice resulted from the violation.”
ThePRESIDENT:On 5 June 2008, Mexico also filed in the Registry a Request for the
indication of provisional measures, referring to Ar ticle41 of the Statute of the Court and to
Articles73, 74 and 75 of the Rules of Court. In its Request for the indication of provisional
measures Mexico refers to the basis of jurisdicti on of the Court invoked in its Application, and to
the facts set out and the submissions made therein. Mexico requests provisional measures to
preserve the rights of Mexico and its nationals, pending the Court’s judgment in the proceedings on
the interpretation of the Avena Judgment. Mexico explains in its Request that “provisional
measures are clearly justified in order both to protect Mexico’s paramount interest in the life of its
nationals and to ensure the Court’s ability to order the relief Mexico seeks”.
In particular, Mexico states that José Ern esto Medellín Rojas, a Mexican national, will face
execution on 5 August 2008; another Mexican national, César Roberto Fierro Reyna, could receive
an execution date on 3d 0ays’ notice a nd three other Mexican nationa— ls
Rubén Ramírez Cárdenas, Humberto Leal García, and Roberto Moreno Ramos ⎯ could receive
execution dates on 90 days’ notice, in the state of Texas.
I shall now ask the Registrar to read out the passage from the Request specifying the
provisional measures which the Government of Mexico is asking the Court to indicate.
The REGISTRAR:
The Government of Mexico, “acting on its own behalf and in the exercise of the
diplomatic protection of its nationals. .. respectfully request[s] that, pending
resolution of Mexico’s Request for Interpretation, the Court indicate:
(a) that the Government of the United States take all measures necessary to ensure
that José Ernesto Medellín, César Roberto Fierro Reyna,
Rubén Ramírez Cárdenas, Humberto LealGarcía, and Roberto Moreno Ramos
are not executed pending the conclusion of the proceedings instituted [on
5 June 2008];
(b) that the Government of the United States inform the Court of all measures taken
in implementation of subparagraph (a); and
(c) that the Government of the United States ensure that no action is taken that might
prejudice the rights of Mexico or its nationals with respect to any interpretation
this Court may render with respect to paragraph 153 (9) of its Avena Judgment.” - 11 -
The PRESIDENT: On 5 June 2008, the date on which the Application and Request for the
indication of provisional measures were filed in the Registry, the Registrar advised the Government
of the United States of the filing of those documents and forthwith provided to it a signed original
of the Application, in accordance with Article 40, paragraph2, of the Statute and Article38,
paragraph4, of the Rules of Court, and a signed original of the Request for the indication of
provisional measures, in accordance with Article73, paragraph2, of the Rules of Court. He also
notified the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the filing of the Application and the
Request.
According to Article74 of the Rules of Court, a Request for the indication of provisional
measures shall have priority over all other cases. The date of the hearing must be fixed in such a
way as to afford the parties an opportunity of being represented at it. Consequently, on
5 June 2008, the Registrar also informed the Par ties that the Court, in accordance with Article 74,
paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court, had fixed 19 June 2008 as the date for the opening of the oral
proceedings.
I note the presence before the Court of the Ag ents and counsel of Mexico and the Co-Agent
and counsel of the United States, the Agent of the United States being unavoidably detained will
arrive a little later. The Court will hear Mexico, which has submitted the Request for the indication
of provisional measures, this morning until 1 o’clock ⎯ that is the time available. It will hear the
United States this afternoon at 3o’clock. For th e purposes of this first round of oral arguments,
each of the Parties has available to it a three-hour s itting. The Parties will then have the possibility
to reply, if they deem it necessary; Mexico at 10 a.m. tomorrow and the United States at 4.30 p.m.
tomorrow. Each of the Parties will have a maxi mum time of one-and-a-half hours in which to
present its reply.
Before calling upon His Excellency Mr. Gómez-R obledo, Agent of Mexico, I shall draw the
attention of the Parties to Practice Direction XI which states inter alia:
“Parties should in their oral pleadings thereon limit themselves to what is
relevant to the criteria for the indication of provisional measures as indicated in the
Statute, Rules and jurisprudence of the Court. They should not enter into the merits of
the case beyond what is strictly necessary for that purpose.”
I now call upon the Agent of Mexico to open the proceedings. - 12 -
M. GÓMEZ-ROBLEDO : Merci, Madame le président.
Introductory remarks, outline of argument, presentation of delegation
1. Madame le président, Messieurs les Membres de la Cour, le Mexique comparaît, une
nouvelle fois, devant la Cour inte rnationale de Justice, à la su ite de sa requête de demande en
interprétation du paragraphe 153, alinéa 9 du dispositif de l’arrêt rendu le 31 mars 2004, en l’affaire
Avena et autres ressortissants mexicains (Mexique c.Etats-Unis d’Amérique) . La demande en
interprétation, déposée auprès du Greffe le 5 juin2008, est accompagnée d’une demande en
indication de mesures conservatoires, cette dernière étant la raison essentielle et centrale de
l’audience que vous avez bien voulu convoquer ce matin.
2. Permettez-moi, à présent, de replacer ce retour à la Cour dans le contexte qui a suivi
l’arrêt Avena. Le Mexique a été, et reste, profondément reconnaissant à la Cour pour la façon dont
elle a su traiter ses prétentions lors de ce procès : le résultat sert le droit international et est, par
conséquent, conforme aux vŒux exprimés par mon pays. L’arrêt Avena est un acquis sur lequel on
ne saurait revenir.
3. Cependant, l’application des obligations découlant de cet arrêt, tout particulièrement celles
qui ont trait au devoir de réparer, a suscité un différend fondamental entre les Etats-Unis et le
Mexique quant à la portée et le sens de l’alinéa 9 du paragraphe 153 de l’arrêt Avena. Ce différend
avec les Etats-Unis, en tant que sujet à part entière du droit international, entrave et empêche, au vu
des omissions des Etats-Unis, la pleine réalisati on des droits que la Cour a reconnus au Mexique
dans son arrêt du 31 mars 2004.
4. La Cour aura l’occasion d’apprécier, le moment venu, que la question n’est pas celle de
savoir dans quelle mesure le gouvernement du président George W. Bush s’est efforcé par tel ou tel
moyen de s’acquitter des obligations qui s ont les siennes conformément à l’arrêt Avena. Les faits
sur lesquels nous nous penche rons au cours de cette audience sont incontournables et
incontestables. Nous nous trouvons bien f ace à des actes qui, cumulativement, placent les
Etats-Unis devant un manquement des obligations internationales qui découlent de l’alinéa9 du
paragraphe 153 de l’arrêt Avena.
5. Madame le président, Messieurs les Membres de la Cour, les quatreannées écoulées
depuis l’arrêt Avena fournissent un nombre important d’exemples des tentatives du Mexique de - 13 -
persuader les Etats-Unis et ses subdivisions politiques, ainsi que les différents pouvoirs qui
composent cet Etat, qu’un vaste éventail de moyens est à leur disposition pour atteindre le résultat
précis que la Cour a exigé dans son arrêt, dans la liberté du choix que l’on sait, et que nous ne
contestons pas. Liberté certes quant au choix des moyens, effet utile de ces moyens néanmoins.
Rien de plus, mais rien de moins, Madame le président.
6. Les Etats-Unis vous diront, sans doute, qu’ils se sont efforcés de se conformer aux
exigences de l’arrêt Avena. Le Mexique n’ignore pas que des efforts louables, ont été réalisés à un
moment déterminé par le pouvoir exécutif des Etats-Unis. Il n’en demeure pas moins que quelle
que fût l’intentionnalité que l’on eusse pu prêter à ces efforts, les Etats-Unis ont manqué à
l’obligation de pourvoir au profit de l’immen se majorité des Mexicains visés par l’arrêt Avena, le
réexamen et la revision des verdicts de culpabilité et des peines prononcées à leur encontre, en
tenant compte à la fois des violations des droits prévus par l’article 36 de la convention de Vienne
et des paragraphes 138 à 141 de l’arrêt.
7. L’interprétation authentique que nous demandons à la Cour devra fournir aux Parties
l’élément de droit qui permettra aux Etats-Unis de remplir ses obligations découlant de l’arrêt
Avena, qui pour le Mexique, en l’occurrence, ne fa it pas de doute mais qui est perçu de manière
fondamentalement différente par les Etats-Unis.
8. Il convient de préciser que, si cette dema nde en interprétation est articulée sur l’arrêt
Avena dont elle est l’objet, elle n’en constitue pas moins une nouvelle affaire, aux termes de
l’article60 du Statut de la Cour et de sa juri sprudence, sur laquelle se greffe notre demande en
indication de mesures conservatoires.
9. Madame le président, Messieurs les Membres de la Cour, en attendant que la Cour veuille
bien aborder le fond de cette affaire, les droits du Mexique et ceux de ses ressortissants visés par
l’arrêt Avena sont en danger. En effet, cinqressortissants mexicains visés par l’arrêt Avena
pourraient être exécutés sans que leurs verdicts de culpabilité et leurs peines aient pu faire l’objet
du réexamen et de la revision auxquels ils ont droit. L’un d’entre eux,
JoséErnestoMedellínRojas, s’est vu fixer, déjà, sa date d’exécution pour le 5août2008 par une
cour de district de Houston, au Texas. - 14 -
10. Il est clair qu’en l’absence de me sures conservatoires ordonnées par la Cour
internationale de Justice, JoséErnesto Medellín Ro jas et après lui, CésarRobertoFierroReyna,
Rubén Ramírez Cárdenas, Humberto Leal García et Roberto Moreno Ramos, seront exécutés avant
l’issue de la procédure engagée par la demande en interprétation du 5 juin.
11. Il s’ensuivrait alors un dommage irrépara ble aux droits du Mexique et à ceux de chacun
des cinq ressortissants que je viens de citer.
12. Les conditions prescrites à l’article41 du St atut de la Cour sont pleinement réunies en
l’espèce. Les mesures conservatoires que nous cher chons à obtenir découlent de la jurisprudence
constante de la Cour dans la trilogie des affaires Breard, LaGrand et Avena, dont notre demande en
interprétation constitue le prolongement et, espérons-le, l’aboutissement définitif.
13. Le Mexique demande donc à la Cour qu’elle ordonne aux Etats-Unis les mesures
conservatoires pour faire en sorte qu’aucun des cinq ressortissants mexicains susmentionnés ne soit
exécuté en attendant l’issue de la procédure engagée quant au fond.
14. Comme c’est le cas d’habitude, nous attendons de la Cour qu’elle demande aux
Etats-Unis de la tenir au courant des mesures prises pour respecter et faire respecter les mesures
conservatoires.
15. Le Mexique est conscient des délais que la Cour a rappelé dans l’affaire LaGrand autant
pour qu’elle ait le temps de pondérer le bien-fondé de sa requête, que pour donner aux Etats-Unis
l’occasion de mettre en Œuvre les mesures qu’elle dicterait.
16. Notre confiance de voir respecter les mesures que la Cour voudrait bien indiquer, est
accrue du fait que les Etats-Unis se sont conf ormés aux mesures conservatoires en2003 et qui
furent ensuite remplacées pa r les obligations énoncées dans le dispositif de l’arrêt Avena au
paragraphe 152 (Avena et autres ressortissants mexicains (Mexique c.Etats-Unis d’Amérique),
fond, arrêt, C.I.J. Recueil 2004, p. 70, par. 152).
17. Madame le président, Messieurs les Memb res de la Cour, croyez-bien que le Mexique
regrette d’être contraint de dema nder à la Cour qu’elle éclaire le sens et la portée de son arrêt.
Nous le regrettons d’autant plus que depuis la fin de la procédure engagée en 2003, maintes ont été
les occasions où nous avons travaillé aux côtés du Gouvernement des Etats-Unis pour assurer la
pleine réalisation de tous les aspects pertinents de l’arrêt Avena. - 15 -
18. Nous reconnaissons, par exemple, une plus grande disposition des Etats-Unis de faire en
sorte que les droits prévus à l’article 36 de la convention de Vienne soient mieux respectés au sein
des juridictions fédérale et locale. Nous savons que les programmes de formation mis en place, et
auxquels la Cour a fait allusion au paragraphe150 de son arrêt, commencent à porter leurs fruits.
Nous apprécions à sa juste valeur le dialogue engagé avec les autorités des Etats-Unis depuis l’arrêt
de la Cour suprême dans l’affaire Medellín, même s’il n’a fait qu’accentuer et s’approfondir le
différend qui nous oppose hélas aujourd’hui.
19. Or, tout cela ne va pas sans paradoxe. Le pouvoir des Etats-Unis sur la scène
internationale est grand, exorbitant, voire écras ant, son rôle dans un environnement global est
indispensable, et l’état de droit est la pierre sur laquelle sont bâtis les Etats-Unis. Que les
Etats-Unis s’engagent, avec les autres membres de la communauté internationale, pour apporter des
solutions fondées sur le droit international aux gr andes questions de ce temps, voilà le souhait
profond du Mexique et l’assurance d’un monde meilleur pour tous.
20. Madame le président, avec la permission de la Cour, nous allons structurer la plaidoirie
du Mexique de la manière suivante.
21. S. Exc. M. l’ambassadeur Joel Hernández García, conse iller juridique du ministère des
affaires étrangères, fera une présentation d’ordre géné ral de l’affaire et établira le fondement de la
juridiction de la Cour.
22. En deuxième lieu, M eSandra Babcock traitera des faits qui sont à l’origine de notre
demande en indication de mesures conservatoires.
23. Par la suite, M eCatherine Amirfar et M Donald Donovan s’attacheront à démontrer le
fondement juridique des mesures demandées et leur conformité avec l’article41 du Statut de la
Cour.
24. Enfin, S.Exc.M.Jorge Lomónaco, ambassadeur du Mexique auprès du Royaume des
Pays-Bas, dressera les conclusions de notre argumentation et formulera les demandes finales à la
Cour.
25. Je vous demande, Madame le président , de bien vouloir appeler à la barre
S. Exc. M. l’ambassadeur Joel Hernández García. Je vous remercie de votre attention. - 16 -
The PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Your Excellency. I do now call His Excellency
Ambassador Joel Hernández García.
Mr. HERNÁNDEZ GARCÍA:
Overview of the Application and Jurisdiction
1. Thank you, Madam President, distinguished Members of the Bench. It is an honour to
appear before this Court for the first time repr esenting Mexico. With your permission, I will first
address the background of Mexico’s request, and then this Court’s jurisdiction.
Overview of the content of Mexico’s Application
2. Before I turn to the basi s for the Court’s jurisdiction in this proceeding, I would like to
pause to say a few words about the background and c ontent of Mexico’s Application to this Court.
On 31March2004, this Court rendered a Judgment on the merits in the Avena case. The Avena
1
case concerned violations of the Vie nna Convention on Consular Relations by competent
authorities of the United States in the cases of certain Mexican nationals who had been sentenced to
death in criminal proceedings in the United States. The Court found, by a vote of fourteen to one,
that the United States had breached Article 36 of the Vienna Convention in the cases of
51 Mexican nationals by failing to inform them in a timely manner of their right to consular access
and notification under Article 36 (Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of
America), Merits, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 71, para. 153 (4)). The Court also found, again
by a vote of fourteen to one, in paragraph 153 (9) of the dispositif, “that the appropriate reparation
in this case consists in the obligation of the United States... to provide, by means of its own
choosing, review and reconsideration of the convictions and sentences of the Mexican nationals”
whose Vienna Convention rights had been violated (id., p. 72, para. 153 (9)).
3. As my colleague SandraBabcock will ela borate, Mexico has made every single effort
since the issuance of the Avena Judgment to obtain the mandated relief in the courts of the United
States. Those efforts have met with little success. Most recently, the United States Supreme Court
1
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 569 UNTS 261, done on 24 April 1963. - 17 -
2
recognized in Medellin v. Texas the undisputed international obligation of the United States to
comply with the Avena Judgment 3, but deemed that an additional step by constituent parts of the
4
United States was needed before the Judgment can be enforced .
4. Madam President, allow me now to elabor ate on the extensive but unavailing diplomatic
efforts carried out by Mexico arising from the Medellín decision of the United States Supreme
Court.
5. On the same day that the United Stat es Supreme Court rendered its decision in the
Medellín case, Mexico issued a press communiqué regretting said decision, and stressing that it
would continue resorting to all available means in order to obtain full respect of the rights granted
to Mexican nationals under the Avena Judgment.
6. Later on, the Mexican Embassy in Washington D.C. filed a diplomatic Note dated
28 March 2008 before the United States Department of State. There, my Government expressed its
disappointment with the terms of the decision and conveyed its view that the Judgment of this
honourable Court in the Avena case establishes an obligation of result.
7. On that basis, Mexico embarked upon an intense dialogue for several weeks with top
officials of the United States Government. This dialogue included meetings, conversations and
correspondence with the objective of obtaining full respect for the Avena Judgment. At the end of
these bilateral consultations, however, it was cl ear as it is now that our countries have
fundamentally different views on the scope and inte rpretation of the obligations that this Court
imposed upon the United States.
8. It is as a result of those contradictory views, Madam President, that we are here today on a
request for interpretation of the operative language of the Avena Judgment. Mexico believes that a
fundamental dispute has emerged between the Parties as to the scope and meaning of
paragraph153(9) of the Judgment. Specifically , whereas Mexico understands that particular
paragraph to establish an obligation of result in cumbent upon the United States, the United States
evidently understands that language to establish only an obligation of means. Indeed, one of its
2
Medellin v. Texas,128 S. Ct. 1346 (2008).
3
Id., 1356.
4Id., 1361, 1371-1372. - 18 -
political subdivisions, the state of Texas, has scheduled the execution of one of the Mexican
nationals named in the Judgment who has yet to receive the review and reconsideration to which he
is entitled.
9. Mexico believes that the scheduling of an execution date is fundamentally inconsistent
with the obligation of result manifest in paragraph 153 (9) of the Avena Judgment. In light of this
dispute, Mexico asks this Court to confirm that the operative language of the Avena Judgment
establishes an obligation of result that obliges the United States to provide the requisite review and
reconsideration irrespective of any domestic law impediment. Further, Mexico submits that the
obligation imposed by the Avena Judgment requires the United States to prevent the execution of
any Mexican national named in the Judgment unless and until that review and reconsideration has
been completed and it has been determined whether any prejudice resulted from the Vienna
Convention violations found by this Court.
Article 60 jurisdiction
10. Madam President, I turn now to this Court’s jurisdiction. As the Court has indicated on
many prior occasions, the Court does not need at th is phase of the proceedings “[to] finally satisfy
itself that it has jurisdiction on the merits of the case” ( Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
(Paraguay v. United States of America), Provisional Measures, Orde r of 9April 1998, I.C.J.
Reports 1998, p. 255, para. 23; LaGrand, Provisional Measures, Order of 3March 1999 , I.C.J.
Reports 1999, p. 13, para. 13). Rather, it simply must conclude that the provisions invoked by the
Applicant, “appear, prima facie, to afford a basi s on which the jurisdiction of the Court might be
5
founded” (id.) .
11. There can be no question that this standard is easily met here. Article 60 of the Court’s
Statute provides an explicit jurisdictional basis for the proceedings Mexico has initiated. It
provides that “[i]n the event of dispute as to the meaning or scope of [a] judgment, the Court shall
construe it upon the request of any party” . As a Party to the Avena Judgment, Mexico is well
5See also Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Provisional
Measures, Order of 8 April 1993, I.C.J. Reports 1993 , pp.11-12, para.14; Fisheries Jurisdiction (United Kingdom v.
Iceland), Provisional Measures, Order of 17 August 1972, I.C.J. Reports 1972, p. 15, para. 15, and p. 16, para. 17.
6Statute of the International Court of Justice, Art. 60. - 19 -
within its rights to seek such an interpretation an d the Court has prima facie jurisdiction to resolve
the dispute.
12. To be clear, the Court does not need to concern itself with the terms of the Parties’
original consent to jurisdiction over the Avena case. Indeed, the Court has on several occasions
confirmed that Article60 jurisdiction operates independently of the basis for the Court’s
jurisdiction over the underlying case in which the judgment to be interpreted was rendered. For
example, in the case concerning the Continental Shelf (Tunisia v. Libya), the Court described its
jurisdiction to provide an interpretation of one of its own judgments as “a special jurisdiction
deriving directly from Article 60 of the Statute” ( Application for Revision and Interpretation of the
Judgment of 24 February 1982 in the Case concerning the Continental Shelf (Tunisia/Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya) (Tunisia v. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), Judgment,, I.C.J. Reports 1985 , p.216,
para. 43). The parties’ agreement to submit disput es to the Court only on mutual consent therefore
did not operate to deprive the Court of its Article 60 jurisdiction to adjudicate a unilateral request
for interpretation (id.). Consistently, in the case concerning the Land and Maritime Boundary
between Cameroon and Nigeria, the Court echoed that “[b]y virtue of the second sentence of
Article60, the Court has jurisdiction to entert ain requests for interpretation of any judgment
rendered by it” (Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 11 June 1998 in the Case concerning
the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon v. Nigeria),
Preliminary Objections (Nigeria v. Cameroon), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1999, p. 35, para. 10).
Thus, this Court has never looked beyond Article 60 to establish its jurisdiction to entertain a
request for interpretation like the one Mexico submitted on 5 June 2008 .
13. With the Court’s permission, I will now give the floor to my colleague,
MsSandraBabcock, who will address the factual basis for the provisional measures that Mexico
seeks. I thank you, Madam President.
The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Your Excellency. I now call Ms Babcock.
7See, e.g., Interpretation of Judgments No. 7 and 8 (Facat Chorzów), (Germany v. Poland), Judgment of
16 December 1927, P.C.I.J. Series A No. 13, 1927, pp. 9-11; Application for Revision and Interpretation of the Judgment
of 24 February 1982 in the Case concerning the Continental Shelf (Tunisia/Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) ( Tunisia v. Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1985, pp. 214-16, paras. 41-43. - 20 -
BABs COCK:
Factual basis for order of provisional measures
Post-Avena efforts to obtain review and reconsideration
1. Madam President, distinguished Members of the Court, good morning. It is an honour to
appear before you once again on behalf of the Government of Mexico.
In2. Avena, this Court made clear that the revi ew and reconsideration required by the
Court’s Judgment must take place as part of the “judicial process” (Avena and Other Mexican
Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America), Merits, Judgment , I.C.J. Reports 2004, pp. 65-66,
para. 140). Consequently, since March 2004, at l east 33 of the 51 Mexican nationals named in the
Court’s Judgment have sought review and reconsideration in United States state and federal courts.
3. To date, only one of these nationals ⎯Osbaldo Torres Aguilera ⎯ has received review
8
and reconsideration consistent with this Court’s mandate . We should also mention, however, that
the State of Arkansas agreed to reduce Mr.Ra fael Camargo Ojeda’s death sentence to life
imprisonment in exchange for his agreement to waive his right to review and reconsideration under
the Avena Judgment. All other efforts to enforce the Avena Judgment have failed.
4. In the time we have available today, it w ill not be possible for me to review all of the
efforts undertaken on behalf of each of the Mexican nationals in question. Instead, I will focus my
remarks on the jurisprudence of the United States S upreme Court, which has issued three separate
opinions addressing the effect of the Avena Judgment in United States courts. One of these
decisions involved two foreign nati onals who were not part of the Avena Judgment, but who cited
this Court’s Avena and LaGrand Judgments as precedent. The other two decisions, which are most
directly relevant to the proceedings here toda y, involved the case of JoséErnestoMedellínRojas,
the Mexican national who is in the most immediate danger of execution. In particular, the Supreme
Court’s March2008 decision in Medellin v. Texas will serve as binding precedent for all United
States courts that are currently considering, or may in the future consider, petitions for review and
reconsideration brought pursuant to the Avena Judgment.
8
Torres v. Oklahoma, 120 P.3d 1184 (Okla. Crim. App. 2005). - 21 -
The case of José Ernesto Medellín Rojas
5. Mr. Medellín is the only individual whose case has been reviewed by the United States
Supreme Court. In fact, the Court agreed to h ear his case on two separate occasions, once in 2004
and again in 2007, in order to resolve whether Unit ed States courts were required, as a matter of
federal law, to give effect to the Avena Judgment.
6. In early 2005, when Mr. Medellín’s case was first pending before the United States
Supreme Court, President George W. Bush issued a signed memorandum that called upon state
courts to give effect to the Avena Judgment in cases filed by the 51 Mexican nationals named
9
therein, including Mr. Medellín . You have a copy of the President’s Memorandum in your folders
at tab 2. The President declared, pursuant to hi s Executive authority, that the United States would
discharge its international obligations under the Avena Judgment “by having state courts give effect
to the decision in accordance with general principles of comity”.
7. In a brief submitted in support of Te xas on the very day the President signed his
Memorandum, the United States argued that the Avena Judgment was not directly binding on
United States courts 10. The United States went on to say, however, that because the President had
determined to comply with the Judgment, stat e courts were required to provide review and
11
reconsideration to the 51 Mexican nationals without regard to state procedural default rules .
8. The Supreme Court subsequently dismisse d Mr. Medellín’s case so that the Texas courts
12
could consider his claims in the first instance . But in late 2006, the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals denied Mr. Medellín’s application on proce dural default grounds, concluding that neither
the Avena Judgment nor the President’s Memorandum constituted binding federal law 13.
9. The Texas court rested its decision in large part on the Supreme Court’s 2006 decision in
Sanchez-Llamas v. Oregon 14, a case that involved two foreign nationals not named in the Avena
Judgment. You have a copy of the Sanchez-Llamas decision in your folders at tab3. In
9President George W. Bush, Memorandum for the Attorney General, “Compliance with the Decision of the
International Court of Justice in Avena”, 28 February 2005.
10
Brief for United States as Amicus Curiae at 41-48, Medellin v. Dretke, No. 04-5928 (5th Cir. Feb. 2005).
11
Id., 52-60.
12Medellín v. Dretke, 544 U.S. 660 (2005).
13Ex parte Medellin, 223 S.W.3d 315 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
14Sanchez-Llamas v. Oregon, 126 S. Ct 2669 (2006). - 22 -
Sanchez-Llamas, the Supreme Court explained that while this Court’s decisions were entitled to
“respectful consideration”, they did not constitute binding precedent 15. The Supreme Court noted
that while the United States had determined that state courts should give effect to the Avena
Judgment, it had not taken the view that this C ourt’s interpretation of Article36 was binding on
United States courts. The Supreme Court furthe r observed that the United States had withdrawn
from the optional protocol to the Vienna Conven tion on Consular Relations, and then stated (on
page 15 of the Sanchez-Llamas decision in your folders):
“Whatever the effect of Avena and LaGrand before this withdrawal, it is
doubtful that our courts should give decisive weight to the interpretation of a tribun16
whose jurisdiction in this area is no longer recognized by the United States.”
10. Consequently, the Supreme Court rejected this Court’s interpretation of Article36(2),
and concluded that Vienna Convention claims can ⎯ as a matter of domestic law ⎯ be foreclosed
by state procedural default rules.
11. Following the decision of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Mr.Medellín again
petitioned the United States Supreme Court for revi ew. The United States joined the proceedings
as amicus curiae and argued that the Texas Court of Crimin al Appeals had erred in failing to give
17
effect to the Avena Judgment . But the United States, even while acknowledging an “international
law obligation to comply with the ICJ’s decision in Avena”, contended that the Judgment itself was
not independently enforceable in domestic courts absent intervention by the President 18.
12. On 25 March 2008, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Texas by a vote of 6 to 3,
holding that neither the Avena Judgment on its own, nor the Judgment in conjunction with the
19
President’s Memorandum, constituted di rectly enforceable federal law . Every member of the
United States Supreme Court acknowledged that the United States has an international legal
15Id., 2683-2684 (citing Breard v. Greene, 523 U.S. 371, 375 (1998)).
16
Id., 2685.
17
Brief for United States as Amicus Curiae Supporting Pet’r at 4, Medellin v. Texas , 128 S. Ct. 1346
(No. 06-984).
18
Id.
19Medellin v. Texas, 128 S. Ct. 1346 (2008). - 23 -
20
obligation to comply with the Avena Judgment . Nonetheless, the Court held that the Judgment
was not binding in the absence of implementing legislation 21.
13. The Supreme Court’s majority decision turned in large part on its understanding of the
United States obligations under Article94 of the Un ited Nations Charter. I would like to direct
your attention to page12 of the Medellín decision, which is in your folders at tab4. There, you
will see that the Supreme Court cited and agreed with the position taken by representatives of the
Executive Branch of the United St ates that the language “undertakes to comply” in Article94(1)
merely expressed “a commitment on the part of U. N. Members to take future action through their
22
political branches to comply with an ICJ decision” . Relying on this interpretation, the Supreme
Court concluded that Article94(1) “does not prov ide that the United States ‘shall’ or ‘must’
comply with an ICJ decision, nor indicate that the Senate that ratified the U. N. Charter intended to
23
vest ICJ decisions with immediate legal effect in domestic courts” .
14. Referring you to page13, the Supreme C ourt further found, again consistent with the
position taken by the Executive Branch, that Article94 (2)’s provision of recourse to the Security
Council constituted “an express diplomatic ⎯ that is, nonjudicial ⎯ remedy” and “is itself
evidence that ICJ judgments were not meant to be enforceable in domestic courts” 24.
15. The Supreme Court also cited (on page14) Article34(1) of this Court’s Statute in
support of its decision. The Supreme Court reasoned that since the 51 Mexican nationals could not
themselves bring a case to this Court, the Avena Judgment cannot be judicially enforceable in their
25
individual cases absent further action by the political branches .
16. The Supreme Court spent relatively few words on the President’s direction to state courts
to comply with the Avena Judgment. The Court determined that under the United States
Constitution, the President’s Memorandum was not capable of transforming the Avena Judgment
20Id., 1356.
21
Id., 1367-1372.
22
Id., 1358 (citation omitted).
23Id.
24Id., 1359 (citation omitted).
25Id., 1360. - 24 -
into binding federal law 2. Critically, however, the Supreme Court did confirm that there are
alternative means available by which the United States still can come into compliance with its
obligations under Avena. In particular, the Court emphasized that the United States Congress can
do what the Executive, acting alone, could not: a nd that is, to enact legislation to make the Avena
Judgment domestically enforceable 27.
17. One week after it denied Mr. Medellín’s case, the Supreme Court denied similar petitions
for review on behalf of seven other Mexican nationals who were entitled to review and
reconsideration under the Avena Judgment.
It is highly likely that five Mexican nationals will be executed absent provisional measures
18. Madam President, with your permission, I will now turn to the likelihood that Mexican
nationals will be executed unless this Court indicates provisional measures. MadamPresident,
distinguished Members of this Court, one fact is absolutely certain: if this Court does not issue
provisional measures, Mexican nationals will be executed while this Court considers the merits of
Mexico’s Request for interpretation. As Mexico ex plained in its Application, five of its nationals
are in immediate danger of execution: José Ernest o Medellín Rojas, César Roberto Fierro Reyna,
Humberto Leal García, Rubén Ramírez Cárdenas, and Roberto Moreno Ramos. The state of Texas
has already scheduled one execution for 5August2008 and execution dates for the four other
Mexican nationals, all of whom are in Texas, are sure to follow.
19. On 5May2008, less than two months after the Supreme Court issued its decision in
Medellín v. Texas , a Texas trial court held a hearing to schedule an execution date for
Mr. Medellín. Mr. Medellín’s counsel asked the cour t not to set an execution date, explaining that
he had not yet received the review and r econsideration that was mandated by the Avena Judgment.
Mr.Medellín sought to present the testimony of two witnesses, one of whom was an expert in
international law, to explain the significance to the trial court of the United States obligation to
comply with the Avena Judgment. But the court refused to allo w the witnesses to testify, stating:
“I am not here to listen to evidence, I am here to set an execution date.”
26
Id., 1368.
2Id., 1369. - 25 -
Ambassador Joel Hernández, who is here today, had also travelled to Houston in order to provide
the trial court with information regarding Mexico’s ongoing efforts to promote compliance with
this Court’s Judgment. But the judge refused to allow him to speak.
20. Mr.Medellín’s counsel then requested that the court at least defer the scheduling of an
execution date so that the United States Congr ess could pass legislation implementing the United
States treaty obligations, consistent with the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Medellín v.
Texas. But the court refused to issue the requested stay. The judge then scheduled Mr. Medellín’s
execution for the earliest date permissible under Te xas law, and as a result, Mr.Medellín is now
28
scheduled to die by lethal injection on 5August2008 . You have in your folders at tab1 the
execution order, which explains in graphic detail how the state of Texas plans to administer the
lethal poison that will cause his death.
21. The other four Mexican nationals ⎯ Messrs.Fierro, Ramírez, Leal and Moreno ⎯ like
Mr. Medellín, have unsuccessfully sought to obtain re view and reconsideration of their convictions
and sentences. Like Mr. Medellín, they presented petitions to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
and to the United States Supreme Court. All of their requests for review were denied. As a result,
they are in immediate danger of being scheduled for execution. Under applicable provisions of
domestic law, Texas could schedule Mr. Fierro’s execution on as little as 30 days’ notice. And for
the rest, Texas could schedule execution dates on 90 days’ notice.
22. The likelihood that these nationals will receive stays of execution must be viewed against
the backdrop of capital punishment in the state of Texas. Since 1982, Texas has executed
407 prisoners ⎯ more than the next six United States states combined. Texas has already executed
one prisoner this year and plans to execute four mo re in July, five in August, three in September,
and one in October, totalling 14 executions in five months.
23. The only recourse these individuals have left is executive clemency ⎯ which, as this
Court may recall from earlier proceedings in the Avena case, leaves them with slim hope, indeed.
Over the last 25years, Texas has commuted just two death sentences. That translates into one
commutation for every 200executions. Based on these statistics, Mr.Medellín and the other
2Execution Order, Ex parte Jose Ernesto Medellín , No.675430, 339th District Court of Harris County, Texas,
5 May 2008. - 26 -
Mexican nationals have less than a 1 per cent chance that the Texas clem ency board will commute
their death sentences.
24. But even if the Texas clemen cy process were a model of fairness ⎯ and it is not ⎯ and
even if the board extended mercy to condemned inmates as a routine matter ⎯ which it does not ⎯
this Court has made abundantly clear that cl emency alone cannot satisfy the United States
obligation to provide review and reconsideration to the Mexican nationals named in its Judgment
(Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America), Merits, Judgment,
I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 66, paras. 142-143).
25. Madam President, the facts I have just d escribed provide unequivocal proof that, today,
Mexican nationals have no greater chance of rece iving stays of execution and meaningful review
and reconsideration than they did before this Court issued its historic Judgment in Avena.
26. Thank you, Madam President, Members of th e Court. I now request that you call on my
colleague, Catherine Amirfar.
The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Ms Babcock. The Court now calls Ms Amirfar.
AMMsIRFAR:
Legal basis for order of provisional measures (Part 1)
1. Madam President, distinguished Members of the Court, good morning. It is a true
privilege to address this Court for the first time on behalf of the Government of Mexico. With the
Court’s permission, I will address Mexico’s entitlement to provisional measures under the
standards enunciated by this Court pursuant to Article 41 of the Statute.
2. Article41(1) of the Statute of the Court vests the Court with “power to indicate, if it
considers that circumstances so require, any provisional measures whic h ought to be taken to
preserve the respective rights of either party”.And as first Paraguay and then Germany argued in
their respective cases, and as this Court found in the LaGrand case, orders of provisional measures
pursuant to Article41 establish binding obligations (LaGrand (Germany v. United States of
America), Merits, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 2001, p. 506, para. 109). - 27 -
3. As a threshold matter, there should be no question of this Court’s authority to issue
provisional measures in the context of a request for interpretation to prevent executions of Mexican
nationals pending this Court’s resolu tion of the rights of the parties in the proceedings before it.
Article41(1) vests the Court with power to i ndicate “any” provisional measures that it deems
appropriate “to preserve the respective rights of either party”. That grant of authority is broad. It
must apply where, as here, a State comes before the Court to seek confirmation that a judgment
issued in a case to which it was a party establishes certain rights and those rights are on the verge of
irreparable breach. There is no basis in either the language or the purpose of Article41 to doubt
that it applies when the requirements for provision al measures are met in the context of a request
for interpretation.
4. In addition to that specific grant of authority in Article 41, the Court’s competence to issue
provisional measures is grounded in its inherent ju risdiction to take any action it deems necessary
to support its basic function as a judicial organ. Indeed, as JudgeFitzmaurice explained in
Northern Cameroons (Cameroon v. United Kingdom):
“[T]here is the Court’s preliminary or ‘incidental’ jurisdiction (e.g., to decree
interim measures of protection...) which it can exercise even in advance of any
determination of its basic jurisdiction as to its ultimate merits... Although much
(though not all) of this incidental jurisdiction is specifically provided for in the Court’s
Statute, or in Rules of Court which the Statute empowers the Court to make, it is really
an inherent jurisdiction, the power to ex ercise which is a necessary condition of the
Court -- or of any court of law ⎯ being able to function at all.” (Northern Cameroons
(Cameroon v. United Kingdom), Preliminary Objec tions, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports
29
1963; separate opinion of Judge Fitzmaurice, p. 103.)
5. It is thus also within the Court’s inherent jurisdiction to order provisional measures to
ensure that its interpretation pursuant to Article 60 is not rendered meaningless.
29See also Nuclear Tests Case (Australia v. France), Merits, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1974, pp. 259-60, para. 23:
“[Inherent jurisdiction] derives from [its] mere existence . . . as a judicial organ established by the consent of States, and
is conferred upon it in order that its basic judicial functions may be safeguarded”; Legality of Use of Force
(Yugoslavia v. Belgium), Provisional Measures, Order of 2 June1999, I.C.J. Reports 1999(I) ; dissenting opinion of
JudgeWeeramantry, p.197: “When Article 41 of the Statute gave the Court po wer to indicate pr ovisional measures it
did not do so to the exclusion of universal principles relng to powers which are inherent in judicial proceedings”;
2 Shabtai Rosenne, The Law and Practice of the International Court 1920-2005 582-583 (4th ed. 2006):
“When a State becomes a party to the Statute or otherwise accepts the Statute ad hoc for the
purposes of a particular case, that State gives its consent to the exercise of the incidental jurisdiction. In
that respect, cases of interpreta tion of a judgment and the revisioa judgment are certainly akin to
other instances of the exercise of incidental jurisdiction, in that they do not require the ad litem consent of
both parties, the Court’s jurisdicti on to deal with these matters deriving from the Statute and from its
jurisdiction in the case that led to the judgment for which interpretation or revision is being requested.”
C. F. Amerasinghe, Jurisdiction of International Tribunals 348 (2003); Sir Gerald Fitzmaurice, The Law and
Procedure of the International Court of Justice 542 (1986). - 28 -
6. I turn now to the standards for the indication of provisional measures. Those standards are
well established. To qualify for provisional measures, the Applicant must meet three requirements.
First, the measures sought must be intended to preserve the respective rights of the parties.
Second, the measures must be intended to prevent irreparable prejudice to the disputed rights. In
other words, the relief sought must be a matter of urgency in the sense that, if the relief is not
granted before the disposition of the dispute on its merits, the Court will be deprived of its capacity
to vindicate fully the rights of the parties. Finally , the indication of provisional measures should
not anticipate the Court’s judgment on the merits (see generally case concerning Fisheries
Jurisdiction (United Kingdom v.Iceland) , Provisional Measures, Order of 29 July 1991, I.C.J.
Reports 1991, p. 16, para. 21).
7. The provisional measures that Mexico seeks are straightforward, extremely urgent, and at
this juncture, familiar. Mexico asks this C ourt to order the United States not to execute
Mr.Medellín on 5August nor set any execution dates for the four Mexican nationals whose
executions are imminent pending the conclusion of these proceedings.
8. Madam President, Members of the Court, this is now the fourth time this Court has been
asked to consider such a request. Particularly in light of the Breard Order of provisional measures,
the LaGrand Order of provisional measures, and the previous indication of provisional measures in
Avena, we submit that Mexico’s request here easily meets this Court’s standards. I will be
addressing the first prong of the test, that is, that the measures sought must be intended to preserve
the respective rights of the parties, and my colleague, Mr.Donovan, will be addressing the
remaining two, as well as the form of the order requested.
9. First, Mexico’s request is plainly intended to preserve the rights that it asserts in its
Request for interpretation of paragraph 153 (9) of the dispositif of the Avena Judgment. Of course,
the Court does not determine the merits of the parties’ respective claims and defences on a request
for provisional measures. In the Avena Order, this Court confirmed that the purpose of provisional
measures is not to resolve the ultimate dispute on the merits. Rather, the provisional measures
“must be concerned” with the need “to preserve . . . the rights which may subsequently be adjudged
by the Court to belong either to the Applicant or to the Respondent” (Avena and Other Mexican
Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America), Provisional Measures, Order of 5 February 2003, - 29 -
I.C.J. Reports 2003, p. 89, para. 48; quoting Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and
Nigeria (Cameroon v. Nigeria), Provisional Measures, Order of 15March1996, I.C.J. Reports
1996, p. 22, para. 35).
10. Madam President, the rights to be adjudged in Mexico’s Request require the indication of
provisional measures if they are to be preserved during the pendency of the proceedings. For
present purposes, of course, the only thing that is relevant is that in executing Mr.Medellín or
others, the United States will forever deprive these nationals of the correct interpretation of the
Judgment. And in Mexico’s view, the correct interpretation reads the remedial language of
paragraph153(9) to establish an obligation of result incumbent upon the United States ⎯ that is,
to require the United States to deliver the precise result of review and reconsideration of the
convictions and sentences of the 51Mexican nati onals in accordance with the operative terms of
the Judgment. While the United States plainly ma y use “means of its own choosing” to discharge
that obligation, the fundamental obligation to provi de review and reconsideration is not contingent
upon the success of any one means, and the United States cannot rest on a single means chosen. It
must not execute any Mexican national name d in the Judgment unless and until review and
reconsideration is completed and either no prejudi ce as a result of the treaty violation is found or
any prejudice is remedied. That is Mexico’s view.
11. In contrast, by its actions thus far, the United States understands the Judgment to
constitute merely an obligation of means, not an obligation of result. The President of the United
States did in 2005 direct state courts to provide review and reconsiderati on consistent with the
Judgment, but as Ms Babcock has already explained, petitions by Mexican nationals for the review
and reconsideration mandated in their cases have repeatedly been denied by domestic courts.
Further, the 25 March 2008 decision by the Suprem e Court of the United States in Mr. Medellín’s
case has rendered the President’s Memorandum without force in state courts 30. While the Supreme
Court recognized the existence of the undisputed , unequivocal international legal obligation to
comply with Avena 3, it also denied the direct enforcem ent of either the Judgment or the
President’s Memorandum absent further action ⎯ either legislation by the United States Congress
30
Medellin v. Texas, 128 S. Ct. 1346 (2008).
3Id., 1356. - 30 -
32
or actions by individual states . Notwithstanding this declaration of the competence of Congress
to do what the President, acting alone, could not, the state of Texas has made clear that unless
restrained, it will go forward with the executi on without providing Mr.Medellín the requisite
review and reconsideration. Apart from having issued the President’s 2005 Memorandum, a means
that fell short of achieving its intended result, the United States to date has not taken the steps
necessary to prevent the executions of Mexican nationals until the obligation of review and
reconsideration is met.
12. Under well-settled principles of internationa l law, there simply can be no question that
the actions of Texas engage the international res ponsibility of the United States. The International
33
Law Commission made this explicit in its Articles on State Responsibility . This Court confirmed
the very same principle in its Order of provisional measures in LaGrand when it observed that “the
international responsibility of a State is engaged by the action of the competent organs and
authorities acting in that State” and therefore that a state governor “is under the obligation to act in
34
conformity with the international undertakings of the United States” . At the same time, it is
equally well settled that the United States cannot invoke its municipal law as justification for
failure to perform its international legal oblig ations. The Vienna Convention on the Law of
Treaties provides expressly that “a party may not invoke the provisions of its internal law as
justification for its failure to perform a treaty” ( LaGrand (Germany v. United States of America),
35
Provisional Measures, Order of 3 March 1999, I.C.J. Reports 1999 (I), p.16, para.28) . This
Court again has confirmed the basic principl e, including when it held, in the case of the Treatment
of Polish Nationals and Other Persons of Polish Origin or Speech in the Danzig Territory , that “a
State cannot adduce as against another State its own Constitution with a view to evading
obligations incumbent upon it under international law or treaties in force” ( Treatment of Polish
32
Id, 1361, 1371-1372.
33Draft Articles on Responsibility of States for Internat ionally Wrongful Acts, adopted by the International Law
Commission at its Fifty-third session (2001), Official Records of the General Asse mbly, Fifty-Sixth Session, Supplement
No. 10 (A/56/10), Art. 4.
34See also LaGrand (Germany v. United States of America), Merits, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 2001 , pp. 507-508,
para. 113.
35Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 23 May 1963, Art. 27, 1155 UNTS 331. - 31 -
Nationals and Other Persons of Polish Origin or Speech in the Danzig Territory, Advisory Opinion
36
of 4 February 1932, P.C.I.J., Series A/B, No. 44, 1933, p. 24) .
13. In short, Mexico submits that anything short of the review and reconsideration ordered
by this Court in the cases of the Mexican nati onals subject to the Judgment would violate the
obligation of result imposed by paragraph 153 (9). If Mexico is correct, then it is incumbent on the
United States to provide review and reconsider ation of the conviction and sentence in each case
and to remedy any prejudice resulting from the undi sputed treaty violation before it can proceed
with an execution. Given this dispute, there can be no doubt that the provisional relief requested
arises from the rights that Mexico seeks to prot ect and preserve until this Court clarifies the
obligation imposed by paragraph 153 (9) of the Avena Judgment.
14. I now request that you call on my colleague, Mr.Donovan, who will address the
remaining requirements for Mexico’s Request for provisional measures, as well as the form of the
order requested. Thank you, Madam President.
The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Ms Amirfar. I now call upon Mr. Donovan.
Mr. DONOVAN:
L EGAL BASIS FOR ORDER OF PROVISIONAL MEASURES PART 2)
1. Madam President, Members of the Court, wh ile I expect that every person in this room
would have preferred that there have been no need for these proceedings, it remains an honour to
appear again before this Court.
2. My colleague Ms Amirfar has set out the first requirement for provisional measures ⎯
that they be designed to preserve the rights of th e parties at issue in the proceeding before the
Court.
3. The second requirement is the threat of “i rreparable prejudice . . . to rights which are the
subject of dispute . . .” (LaGrand (Germany v. United States of America), Provisional Measures,
3See also Free Zones of Upper Savoy and the District of Gex (Francev. Switzerland), Order of
6 December 1930, P.C.I.J., Series A, No. 24, 1930 , p. 12: a State “cannot rely on [ its] own legislation to limit the scope
of [its] international obligatioReparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations, Advisory
Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1949, p. 180: where a “claim is based on the breach of an international obligation on the part of
[a] Member [State] . . . the Member [State] cannot contend that this obligation is governed by municipal law”. - 32 -
Order of 3 March 1999, I.C.J. Reports 1999 (I) , p. 15, para. 23). It follows from that requirement
that provisional measures indicated pursuant to Artic le 41 are “only justified if there is urgency in
the sense that action prejudicial to th e rights of either party is likely to be taken before such final
decision is given” ( Passage through the Great Belt (Finland v. Denmark), Provisional Measures,
Order of 29 July 1991, I.C.J. Reports 1991, p. 17, para. 23). Regrettably, this Court has been here
before, and its treatment of identical applications on earlier occasions can leave no doubt, first that
Mexico faces a real danger of irreparable prej udice and second, that the circumstances here are
sufficiently urgent as to justify the issuance of provisional measures.
4. This Court’s Orders in the Breard and LaGrand cases, as well as its Order on Mexico’s
Application prior to the Court’s Judgment in Avena, all confirm that irreparable prejudice to the
rights of Mexico would be caused by the execution of any national subject to that Judgment
pending this Court’s resolution of the present Request for interpretation (see Vienna Convention on
Consular Relations (Paraguay v. United States of America), Provisional Measures, Order of
9April1998, I.C.J. Reports 1998 , p.257, para. 37; LaGrand (Germany v. United States of
America), Provisional Measures, Order of 3March1999, I.C.J. Reports 1999(I) , p.15, para. 24;
Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America), Provisional Measures,
Order of 5February2003, I.C.J. Reports 2003 , p.91, para.55). As the Court first held in the
Breard case and then reiterated in LaGrand and Avena, the execution of a national who might be
spared execution by virtue of the relief sought by the applicant State “would render it impossible
for the Court to order the relief that [that State] seeks and thus cause irreparable harm to the rights
it claims” (Vienna Convention on Cons ular Relations (Paraguay v. United States of America),
Provisional Measures, Order of 9 April1998, I.C.J. Reports 1998 , p.257, para.37). To put the
matter plainly, it is impossible to identify an act more irreparable than the execution of a human
being.
5. The Court’s reasoning in resolving the thr ee earlier applications applies squarely here.
Were the Court to decline to order the provisi onal measures sought, irreparable prejudice in the
form of the execution of a Mexican national entitled to a correct interpretation of the Judgment will
result. The execution of a Mexican national subject to the Avena Judgment and hence entitled to
review and reconsideration before the Court has had the opportunity to resolve the present Request - 33 -
for interpretation would forever deprive Mexico of the opportunity to vindicate its rights and those
of its nationals. Surely the same considerations of irreparable harm that made an apology or other
restitution in any material form patently inadequa te at the time of Mexico’s earlier application for
provisional measures apply with equal force now. A nd surely the same considerations that caused
this Court to find that any delay in the executi ons pending the resolution of the relevant dispute
could not suffice to dispel or outweigh the prejudice to Mexico also apply with equal force now.
6. There can also be no question as to urgenc y. In granting Mexico’s earlier request for
provisional measures, the Court found that there wa s a “risk of execution in the coming months, or
possibly even weeks”, for certain of the nationals, and concluded that “their execution would cause
irreparable prejudice to any rights that may subsequently be adjudged by the Court to belong to
Mexico” (Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America), Provisional
Measures, Order of 5February2003, I.C.J. Reports 2003 , p.91, para.55). At that time, none of
the Mexican nationals for whom Mexico sought re lief had had an execution date set, but the Court
made clear that that circumstance was not a prerequisite. Specifically, the Court held that “the fact
that no such dates have been fixed in any of the cases before the Court is not per se a circumstance
that should preclude the Court from indicating provisional measures” (id., p. 91, para. 54).
7. As MsBabcock has explained, as we stand here today, Texas officials are preparing to
carry out Mr.Medellín’s execution on 5August. As she has also explained, another national
subject to the Avena Judgment could receive an execution date on as little as 30 days’ notice. And
three more could receive execution dates on 90 days’ notice. The situation is indisputably urgent.
8. I would like to make two additional points as to urgency. A litigant considering an
application for provisional measures must always balance, on the one hand, the risk of
unnecessarily or prematurely invoking the judicial process and, on the other, the importance of
giving the court or tribunal sufficient time fully to assess the application. In filing its request two
months before the date Texas has stated it will execute Mr. Medellín, Mexico has sought to respect
the Court’s observation earlier that “the [Court’s] sound administration of justice requires that a
request for the indication of provisional measures founded on Article73 of the Rules of Court be
submitted in good time” ( LaGrand (Germany v. United States of America), Provisional Measures,
Order of 3March1999, I.C.J. Reports 1999(I) , p.14, para.19; Avena and Other Mexican - 34 -
Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America), Provisional Measures, Order of 5 February 2003,
I.C.J. Reports 2003, p.90, para.54). In full agreement with that observation, Mexico has
submitted its Request at a time that will allow the Court to give it full and adequate consideration
notwithstanding the undoubted urgency.
9. Moving to my second point as to urgency: Mexico recognizes that provisional measures
should be sought with restraint, and it wishes to re spect the approach adopted by this Court on its
earlier application for provisional measures. Henc e, Mexico asks the Court to indicate provisional
measures only in respect of those of its nationals who have exhausted all available remedies and
face an imminent threat of execution. In its Order of 5February2003 on Mexico’s first
Application, the Court indicated provisional measu res in respect of three Mexican nationals who
risked execution within a period of six months ( Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v.
United States of America), Provisional Measures , Order of 5 February 2003, I.C.J. Reports 2003 ,
p.81, para.11). Here, Mexico has sought protection for five individuals, two of whom were
covered by the Court’s prior Order (id.) . As I have just said, one of those nationals, Mr. Medellín,
is scheduled to be executed on 5 August, and the other four are subject to the setting of execution
dates in 90days or less. Of course, Mexico will return to this Court for protection for additional
individuals if changing circumstances make that necessary ( Request for Indication of Provisional
Measures, 5 June 2008, p. 2, n. 1).
10. I therefore move to the third prong, as to which I can be brief.
11. Mexico’s Request for provisional measures in no way anticipates the Court’s judgment
on its Request for interpretation. Again, the Court has confirmed by each of its three earlier Orders
in identical circumstances that an order requiring that an execution be halted does not prejudge the
merits of the dispute (see Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (Paraguay v. United States of
America), Provisional Measures, Order of 9 April 1998 , pp.257-258, para.40; LaGrand
(Germany v. United States of America), Provisional Measures, Order of 3 March 1999 , p.15,
para. 27; Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America), Provisional
Measures, Order of 5February2003, I.C.J. Reports 2003 , p.91, para.58). To the contrary,
Mexico’s request for provisional measures seek s precisely the kind of relief that provisional
measures are designed to afford ⎯ the maintenance of the status quo so that the Court, once ready - 35 -
to resolve the dispute, will have the capacity to provide fully effective relief to the prevailing party.
Indeed, as Mexico pointed out on its earlier Application, only the denial of provisional measures
would anticipate the merits, because, as to any Me xican national executed in the interim, the Court
would have thereby rendered itself incapable of vi ndicating Mexico’s position should it prevail on
its Request for interpretation.
12. Madam President, Members of the Court, we submit that, in accord with the Paraguay,
LaGrand, and Avena Orders, Mexico has clearly demonstrated its entitlement to the provisional
measures it seeks.
13. With the Court’s permission, then, I will tu rn to the form of the provisional order that
Mexico requests from this Court. In Breard and LaGrand, the Court ordered that the United States
“should take all measures at its disposal ” to ensure that the foreign nationals were not executed
pending the final decision in those proceedings (LaGrand (Germany v. United States of America),
Provisional Measures, Order of 3 March 1999, p.16, para. 29 (a): emphasis added); Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations (Paraguay v. United States of America), Provisional Measures,
Order of 9 April 1998, p. 258, para. 41 (I); emphasis added). In both cases, the nationals who were
the subject of the provisional measures were executed shortly thereafter, and in LaGrand, when
Germany sought a declaration that the United States had thereby breached an international
obligation, the United States suggested that the relevant Order had been less unequivocal than some
might have read it ⎯ an argument, of course, that this Court rejected.
14. Still, with those events in mind, Mexico urged by its first Request for provisional
measures that the Court frame its order in a manne r that could allow no doubt that the measures
imposed an obligation of result, not of best efforts ⎯ that made clear that any impediments posed
by domestic law could not justify failure to comply ⎯ that made clear, in other words, that the
United States must, put simply, prevent the executions. Granting that Request, the Court issued an
Order of provisional measures in Avena that departed materially from the Orders in Breard and
LaGrand by stating that the United States “shall take all measures necessary” to ensure that the
three Mexican nationals covered were not executed pending the conclusion of the proceedings
(Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America), Provisional Measures, - 36 -
Order of 5February2003, I.C.J. Reports 2003 , p.91, para. 59(I) (a)). The terms were
unequivocal, and we ask the Court to use those same terms here.
15. Here, however, we ask the Court, yet again, to make the order even more explicit than its
predecessors. In light of the confusion we have identified as to the character of the obligation
imposed by Avena, we request that the Court specify that the obligation to take all steps necessary
to ensure that the execution not go forward applies to all competent organs of the United States and
all its constituent subdivisions, including all bran ches of government and any official, state or
federal, exercizing government authority. That, of c ourse, is a basic principle of international law.
But in these circumstances we believe it warrants express reiteration by the Court here.
16. Also, consistent with the Avena Order, Mexico requests the Court to order that the
United States inform the Court of all measures ta ken to prevent the execution of Messrs. Medellín,
Fierro, Ramírez, Leal and Moreno.
17. Madam President, if the Court will permit me a final observation: the United States
stands for the rule of law. Both the President of the United States and the Supreme Court of the
United States have confirmed that the United States has a legal obligation, arising from treaties into
which the United States voluntarily entered, to comply with the Avena Judgment. Yet
Mr. Medellín, a Mexican national entitled under that Judgment to review and reconsideration of his
conviction and sentence in light of the violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations in
his case, stands perilously close to execution without having received that review and
reconsideration.
18. In these circumstances, we return to the Court in the hope ⎯ indeed, in the belief ⎯ that
this Court’s intervention in the form of an indi cation of the requested provisional measures, which
would represent an initial step toward clarifying the character of the obligation imposed by the
Avena Judgment, will assist in vindicating the author ity of international law in the relations
between States and, further, the United States commitment to the rule of law.
19. Thank you, Madam President. I now request that you call on my colleague, Ambassador
Jorge Lomónaco Tonda, Ambassador of Mexico to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Mr. Donovan. I now call Ambassador Lomónaco Tonda. - 37 -
Mr. LOMÓNACO:
C ONCLUDING REMARKS AND SUBMISSIONS
1. Thank you, Madam President. It is a true honour and a privilege to appear before Your
Excellencies today. With the Court’s permission, I will offer brief concluding remarks regarding
Mexico’s Request for provisional measures.
2. Madam President, distinguished Member s of the Court, Mexico returns to the
International Court of Justice to preserve its right s but also as an act of consistency: consistency
with its commitment to uphold international law and consistency in support of this Court’s role as
the highest judicial body for the peaceful settleme nt of disputes among States. In this context,
Mexico duly acknowledges the work done by this honourable Court in its Judgment in the Avena
case. Mexico’s decision to file its Request for interpretation on 5June 2008 reflects its
commitment to the full implementation of that Judgment.
3. The Government of Mexico recognizes and welcomes the efforts undertaken by the
Government of the United States to enforce the Avena Judgment in state courts. Those efforts have
fallen short, however, of what is required by the Judgment. After exhausting diplomatic overtures
with top officials of the United States Government and conducting a thorough analysis of all legal
options, Mexico came to the conclusion that the Governments of Mexico and the United States
have divergent views as to the meaning and scope of paragraph 153 (9) of the Avena Judgment, and
that a clarification by this Court is necessary.Irrespective of the current proceedings, Mexico is
strongly committed to continue working co-operativ ely with the United States on the many issues
that arise in the context of a very close bilatera l relationship such as ours, including the effort to
achieve full respect for the Avena Judgment.
4. As is clear from Mexico’s presentation today, its Request for provisional measures meets
all of the criteria established under Article 41 of the Statute of the Court and set forth in the Court’s
jurisprudence. Mexico has lodged what it believes to be a narrow request for provisional measures
limited to what is strictly necessary to preserve Mexico’s rights pending the Court’s final judgment
on its Request for interpretation. At this stage, Mexico has asked the Court to indicate provisional - 38 -
measures only in respect of those of its nationals who have exhausted a ll appeals available under
applicable state law and who face an imminent threat of execution.
5. Mexico has endeavoured to seek this Court’ s involvement at a juncture that allows the
Court sufficient time to offer its full and unhurried consideration and, at the same time, will permit
the United States ample opportunity to implement any order issued by the Court. Mexico thanks
the Court for convening this hearing as expedientl y as possible, and trusts that the United States
will take any and all steps necessary, should an orde r be issued, to prevent the executions at which
the provisional measures would be aimed.
6. Finally, Madam President, distinguished Members of the Court, in the name of the
Government of the United Mexican States, acting on its own behalf and in the exercise of its right
to afford diplomatic protection to its nationals, allow me to request that this honourable Court issue
an order indicating:
(a)that the United States, acting through all its competent organs and all its constituent
subdivisions, including all branches of government and any official, state or federal, exercizing
government authority, take all measures necessary to ensure that José ErnestoMedellín,
CésarRoberto Fierro Reyna, Rubén Ramírez Cárdenas, Humberto Leal García, and
Roberto Moreno Ramos are not executed pending th e conclusion of the proceedings instituted
by Mexico on 5 June 2008; and
(b)that the Government of the United States inform the Court of all measures taken in
implementation of subparagraph (a).
7. In light of the extreme gravity of the s ituation and the overwhelming risk that authorities
of the United States imminently will act to execute Mexican nationals subject to this Request in
violation of obligations incumbent upon the United States under the Avena Judgment, my
Government respectfully requests that the Court consider this petition as a matter of utmost
urgency.
8. This concludes Mexico’s oral arguments today. Thank you, Madam President. - 39 -
The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Your Excellency. This ends the first round of oral
observations of Mexico. The Court will meet again at 3 p.m. today to hear the first round of oral
observations of the United States. The Court now rises.
The Court rose at 11.25 a.m.
___________
Public sitting held on Thursday 19 June 2008, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Higgins presiding, in the case concerning the Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 31 March 2004 in the Case concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America) (Mexico v. United States of America)