The World Court today ordered the United States to stay the executions of three Mexican nationals on death row due to Vienna Convention violations.

"Mexico argues that U.S. authorities systematically breached its rights and those of its nationals under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which obliges local authorities to inform an arrested person without delay of his right to speak to consular officials from his country."

Mexico sought the stay for 51 of its citizens on death row in the U.S. The court granted a stay for the three with close execution dates, who might not still be around by the time the Court decides the case on its merits.

The World Court is formally known as the International Court of Justice. It is a U.N. court that is used to resolve disputes among nations. It does not have enforcement power over it's rulings, and the United States has disregarded its decisions in the past.