Fixing Medellín: Ensuring Consular Access Through Compliance
With International Law

References

1 Medellín v. Texas (Medellín III), 554 U.S. 759 (2008); Medellín v. Texas (Medellín II), 552 U.S. 491 (2008).
2 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Apr. 24, 1963, 21 U.S.T. 77, 596 U.N.T.S. 261, available at http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_2_1963.pdf.
3 Medellín II, 552 U.S. at 504-05.
4 Id. at 522-23.
5 Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo, Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico, The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (2008), available at http://untreaty.un.org/cod/avl/pdf/ha/vccr/vccr_e.pdf.
6 See United Nations Treaty Collection Database, Status of Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, available at http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=UNTSONLINE&tabid=2&mtdsg_no=III-6&chapter=3&lang=en#Participants
7 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, art. 36, supra note 2.
8 Id.
9 Id.
10 Id.
11 See United Nations Treaty Collection Database, Status of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, supra note 6.
12 See Robert Greffenius, Selling Medellin: The Entourage of Litigation Surrounding the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the Weight of International Court of Justice Opinions in the Domestic, 23 Am. U. Int'l L. Rev. 943, 948  (2008) (citing, Breard v. Pruett, 134 F.3d 615, 621 (4th Cir. 1998) (Butzner, J. concurring) (stating that the treaty is self-executing because it confers "rights to individuals rather than merely setting out the obligations of signatories"); Paraguay v. Allen, 949 F. Supp. 1269, 1274 (E.D. Va. 1996) (noting that both parties to the litigation agree that the VCCR is self-executing in the sense that it does not require any implementing legislation to become federal law); Mark J. Kadish, Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations: A Search for the Right to Consul, 18 Mich. J. Int'l L. 565, 588 n.147 (1997) (citing governmental officials' statements referring to the VCCR as "entirely self-executive"); Howard S. Schiffman, Breard and Beyond: The Status of Consular Notification and Access Under the Vienna Convention, 8 Cardozo J. Int'l & Comp. L. 27, 40-42 (2000) (citing multiple cases concluding that Article 36 conferred judicially enforceable rights and commenting that this conclusion appears logical since the construction of Article 36 sets out not merely the obligations of the signatories, but also mandatory, unequivocal recognition of the importance of consular access to those detained by foreign governments))..
13 See United Nations Treaty Collection Database, Status of Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes, available at http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=III-8&chapter=3&lang=en. http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=UNTSONLINE&tabid=2&mtdsg_no=III-6&chapter=3&lang=en - Participants.
14 Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes, Apr. 24, 1963, 21 U.S.T. 71, 596 U.N.T.S. 487.
15 Statute of the Court of International Justice, art. 59.
16 U.N. Charter, art. 94.
17 United States Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran (U.S. v. Iran), 1980 I.C.J. 451 (May 24).
18 Id.
19 Case Concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals, (Mex. v. U.S.)(Avena), 2004 I.C.J. 12 (Mar. 31).
20 In LaGrand Case (F.R.G. v. U.S.), 2001 I.C.J. 466 (June 27), the ICJ ruled that the VCCR confers judicially enforceable rights on foreign nationals detained for prolonged periods or sentenced to severe penalties without notice of their right to communicate with their consulates. The court also ruled that states that fail to give timely notice cannot later invoke procedural default to bar individuals from judicial relief. However, the court did not clearly address other issues, such as requiring individuals to show prejudice to the outcome of the trial, or denial of certain remedies for Convention violations, which may effectively foreclose relief.
21 Avena, 2004 I.C.J. 12 (Mar. 31).
22 Id.
23 Id.
24 Id.
25 Id.
26 See Letter from Condoleeza Rice, U.S. Secretary of States, to Kofi Annan, U.N. Secretary General (Mar. 7, 2005); see also Memorandum from George W. Bush, President of the United States, to the Attorney General of the United States (Feb. 28, 2005); Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae Supporting Respondent at app. 2, Medellin v. Dretke (Medellín I), 544 U.S. 660 (2005) (No. 04-5928), 2005 WL 504490.
27 Memorandum from George W. Bush, President of the United States, to the Attorney General of the United States (Feb. 28, 2005).
28 Medellín II, 552 U.S. at 491.
29 Brief for Petitioner at 30, Medellín II, 552 U.S. 491 (2008) (No. 06-984), 2007 WL 1886212.
30 Brief for Respondent at 38-39, Medellín II, 552 U.S. 491 (2008) (No 06-984), 2007 WL 2428387.
31 Medellín II, 552 U.S. at 506.
32 Id. at 532.
33 Id. at 521-22.
34 United States Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual (1984) Ch. 400, Introduction.  In the most recent update of the Foreign Affairs Manual the State Department acknowledges that “Abuse is an unfortunate reality that can occur even in the most enlightened police and penal systems for any number of reasons, including... [a] reaction to cultural or language differences and misunderstandings.”  United States Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual (2004) Ch. 420, Notification and Access.
35 U.S. Citizens Imprisoned in Mexico: Hearing before H. Subcomm. on International, Political and Military Affairs (Part I), 94th Cong. 16 (1975) (statement of Leonard F. Walentynowicz, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs). 
36 See Letter from Condoleeza Rice, U.S. Secretary of States, to Kofi Annan, U.N. Secretary General (Mar. 7, 2005).
37 United States. Department of State, Backgrounder: Status of Forces Agreement (Jan. 4, 2000), available at http://www.bu.edu/globalbeat/usdefense/USIA010400.html. 
38 U.S. v. Iran, 1980 I.C.J. 451 (May 24).
39 Id.
40 Letter from Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State, to Victor Rodriguez, Chairman of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles (Nov. 27, 1998).