WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Supreme Court said Monday that it might put off a decision on whether 51 Mexican nationals on death rows in the United States are entitled to reopen their cases as the result of a ruling in their favor by the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands.
Instead, the justices said Texas courts should take up the matter first to address an unusual order by President Bush. One month ago, he declared that the state courts must consider whether to give the defendants a new trial or new sentencing hearing, saying the United States had a duty to "discharge its international obligations" by complying with a clear ruling of the international court.
In the Vienna Convention of 1963, U.S. officials agreed that they must be informed when Americans are arrested abroad. The same principle applies to foreign nationals arrested and held in the United States.
Two years ago, Mexico sued the United States because it had not been informed when its citizens were arrested, tried and sentenced to death. The suit was brought on behalf of 51 Mexicans who were on death row in nine states. The international court, also known as the World Court, ruled for Mexico and said U.S. officials must "review and reconsider" the convictions and sentences.
Until Bush's order, it was unclear how, or whether, the United States would abide by the order. No one had anticipated that Bush would put himself in conflict with Texas officials in a challenge to the validity of more than a dozen death sentences in that state.
His order also threw a wrench into the pending proceedings before the Supreme Court in the case of Jose Medellin, who is challenging his 1994 conviction and death sentence from a Texas court.
The justices had already agreed to decide in this case whether the World Court's ruling gave the Mexican national a right to reopen his case in federal court. But when that issue came up for argument Monday, several justices said it might make more sense to send the dispute back to Texas.
I guessed I missed the piece of legislation assigning rights on US soil to to the UN...er Hague.
Hey Mexico, fix you own freaking problems with corruption, drugs, poverty etc etc. I wonder how many of those people on death row are convicted drug smugglers/murderers? I am sure there is $$$ money involved for someone in the Fox government too.
"The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
Instead, the justices said Texas courts should take up the matter first to address an unusual order by President Bush. One month ago, he declared that the state courts must consider whether to give the defendants a new trial or new sentencing hearing, saying the United States had a duty to "discharge its international obligations" by complying with a clear ruling of the international court.
In the Vienna Convention of 1963, U.S. officials agreed that they must be informed when Americans are arrested abroad. The same principle applies to foreign nationals arrested and held in the United States.
Two years ago, Mexico sued the United States because it had not been informed when its citizens were arrested, tried and sentenced to death. The suit was brought on behalf of 51 Mexicans who were on death row in nine states. The international court, also known as the World Court, ruled for Mexico and said U.S. officials must "review and reconsider" the convictions and sentences.
Until Bush's order, it was unclear how, or whether, the United States would abide by the order. No one had anticipated that Bush would put himself in conflict with Texas officials in a challenge to the validity of more than a dozen death sentences in that state.
His order also threw a wrench into the pending proceedings before the Supreme Court in the case of Jose Medellin, who is challenging his 1994 conviction and death sentence from a Texas court.
The justices had already agreed to decide in this case whether the World Court's ruling gave the Mexican national a right to reopen his case in federal court. But when that issue came up for argument Monday, several justices said it might make more sense to send the dispute back to Texas.
I guessed I missed the piece of legislation assigning rights on US soil to to the UN...er Hague.
Hey Mexico, fix you own freaking problems with corruption, drugs, poverty etc etc. I wonder how many of those people on death row are convicted drug smugglers/murderers? I am sure there is $$$ money involved for someone in the Fox government too.
"The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."