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Dennis · Guest

FROM REUTERS

HEAD: World Court: U.S. must delay Mexican death sentences

THE HAGUE - The World Court ordered the United States on Wednesday to do all
it could to halt the imminent executions of five Mexicans until the court
makes a final judgment in a dispute over suspects' rights.

The row, which has strained relations between the two neighbors, centers on
Mexico's accusation that the United States failed to inform 51 of its
citizens sentenced to die in U.S. jails of their right to consular
assistance.

One of the five Mexicans on death row, Jose Medellin, is due to die on
August 5 in Texas, while the others also face imminent execution.

In 2004, the World Court ruled in favor of Mexico, finding the United States
had violated international law, and ordered it to review the 51 cases to see
whether the lack of consular assistance had prejudiced the outcome of their
trials.

A year later, U.S. President George W. Bush ordered Texas to review
Medellin's case but the U.S. Supreme Court then ruled in March that Bush had
no authority to do so, leading Texas to schedule Medellin's execution for
August.

"The court indicates that the United States of America shall take all
measures necessary to ensure that five Mexican nationals are not executed
pending its final judgment," Judge Rosalyn Higgins said.

Mexico has asked the World Court or International Court of Justice (ICJ) for
an interpretation of its 2004 ruling, given U.S. claims that its federal
states have a large degree of autonomy in criminal justice and can act
independently.

Mexico opposes the U.S. death penalty.

A gang member, Medellin was denied the right to meet with a consular
official from Mexico after his arrest for the June 1993 rape and murder of
two teenage girls in Houston. The killings were linked to a gang initiation.

Under the Vienna Convention, foreign nationals have a right to talk to
consular officers after their arrests.

Texas has said Medellin was never told he could talk to Mexican officials.
But it has argued that the claim cannot be made now because he never raised
it at trial or sentencing.

Even if his treaty rights had been violated, it would not have made any
difference in the outcome of the case, Texas said.

The ICJ is responsible for handling disputes between U.N. member states. Its
rulings -- which often take years -- are binding and not subject to appeal.
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Sure do hope we don't give The Hague bozos veto power over our court's
decisions.

Dionysus