Landmark International Law Cases: Asylum, Nationality, and Maritime Disputes
Landmark International Law Cases
The Nottebohm Case (Liechtenstein v. Guatemala)
This case involved Liechtenstein’s claim for restitution and compensation from Guatemala due to alleged mistreatment of Friedrich Nottebohm, a Liechtenstein citizen. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Liechtenstein’s claim was inadmissible because Mr. Nottebohm’s nationality was not based on a genuine link with the country, and his naturalization was solely for the purpose of acquiring neutral status during wartime.
The SS Lotus Case (France v. Turkey)
This case concerned a collision between a French ship (Lotus) and a Turkish ship (Boz-Kourt) on the high seas. The ICJ held that both France and Turkey had jurisdiction to try the case, as the incident involved the nationals and vessels of both countries.
The Scotia Case (USA v. UK)
This case involved a collision between a British ship (Scotia) and an American ship (Berkshire). The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that international maritime customs, including the use of lights on ships at night, applied, and Berkshire was at fault for not using lights, thus not entitled to compensation.
The Asylum Case (Colombia v. Peru)
This case dealt with the issue of diplomatic asylum. The ICJ decided that Colombia did not have the unilateral right to qualify an offense for the purpose of granting asylum to Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, a Peruvian political figure.
The Eichman Case (United States v. Eichman)
This case challenged the Flag Protection Act, which criminalized flag burning. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the law, finding it violated the First Amendment’s protection of free expression.