Opinion ID: 1860995
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

Text: In his last claim, Darling, who is a foreign national and citizen of the Bahamas, argues that, following his arrest, the police never informed him of his right to seek contact with his consulate to arrange for legal representation. Although the authorities did not use any post-arrest statements obtained from Darling, he submits that the death penalty should be precluded because of this alleged violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention, which provides that a foreign national arrested in the United States has the right to be informed that he may contact his consulate. [18] It is unclear that the Vienna Convention creates individual rights enforceable in judicial proceedings. [19] Cf. Maharaj v. State, 778 So.2d 944, 959 (Fla.2000) (observing that Maharaj's claim that the State had failed to comply with its international obligation to inform the British Consul that a British citizen had been charged with a capital crime, as required under the Vienna Convention, failed not only because the issue was, in that case, procedurally barred, but also because Maharaj had failed to establish that he has standing, as treaties are between countries, not citizens) (citing Matta-Ballesteros v. Henman, 896 F.2d 255 (7th Cir.1990)). Indeed, the preamble to the treaty reflects the recognition that the purpose of such privileges and immunities is not to benefit individuals but to ensure the efficient performance of functions by consular posts on behalf of their respective States. Vienna Convention, preamble, 21 U.S.T. at 79. However, we need not reach that issue where, as here, Darling has failed to show that he was prejudiced by the claimed violation. As was stated in Breard v. Greene, 523 U.S. 371, 118 S.Ct. 1352, 140 L.Ed.2d 529 (1998), it is extremely doubtful that the violation should result in the overturning of a final judgment of conviction without some showing that the violation had an effect on the trial. Id. at 372, 118 S.Ct. 1352.