FIXING OF TIME LIMITS FOR FILING OF WRITTEN PLEADINGS IN LAGRAND CASE
Press Release
ICJ/567
FIXING OF TIME LIMITS FOR FILING OF WRITTEN PLEADINGS IN LAGRAND CASE
19990308 THE HAGUE, 8 March (ICJ) -- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has fixed time limits for the filing of written pleadings in the LaGrand (Germany v. United States) case.Germany is to file a Memorial by 16 September, and the United States a Counter-Memorial by 27 March 2000.
The Court fixed these time limits by an Order dated 5 March, taking into account the views expressed by the Parties and the Order on provisional measures issued by it on 3 March.
The subsequent procedure has been reserved for further decision.
Germany instituted proceedings against the United States on 2 March, alleging violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963 with respect to the case of Karl and Walter LaGrand, two German nationals convicted of murder in Arizona. It maintains that they "were tried and sentenced to death without being advised of their rights to consular assistance", as required by the Vienna Convention.
Karl LaGrand, 35, was executed on 24 February. His brother Walter, 37, was executed on 3 March, after the Court had earlier issued an Order for provisional measures. In that Order, which was adopted unanimously, the Court had called on the United States to "take all measures at its disposal" to ensure that Walter LaGrand was not executed pending a final decision in the proceedings instituted by Germany.
For further information, contact Arthur Witteveen, Secretary of the Court, tel: 31-70-302 2336; or Laurence Blairon, Information Officer, tel: 31-70-302 2337; e-mail: information@icj-cij.org.
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