The LaGrand Case
Germany v. United States of America
On June 27, 2001, the International Court of Justice (the World Court) issued its judgment on the merits of the LaGrand case (Germany v. United States). Walter LaGrand and his brother, German nationals living in the United States, were arrested in Arizona in 1982 on suspicion of armed robbery and murder. They were not informed of their rights under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, a multilateral treaty to which both Germany and the United States are parties. Article 36, paragraph (1)(b) of the Convention provides: If he so requests, the competent authorities of the receiving state shall, without delay,…
