Supreme Court overrules Bush, OKs Texas execution – CNN.com
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Texas can execute a Mexican murderer being held on its death row. The case pitted President Bush against his home state in a dispute over federal authority, local sovereignty and foreign treaties.
The case decided by the Supreme Court on Tuesday pitted President Bush against his home state, Texas.At issue was whether the state had to give in to a demand by the president that the prisoner be allowed new hearings and sentencing.
Bush made that demand reluctantly, after an international court concluded Jose Ernesto Medellin was improperly denied access to his consulate before his original prosecution — a violation of a treaty signed by the United States decades ago.
The 6-3 vote means the pending execution of Medellin can proceed. He faces lethal injection for two slayings.
And especially don’t mess with Texans. They don’t like that.
Medellin was 18 when he participated in the June 1993 gang rape and murder of two Harris County, Texas, girls: Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16. He was convicted of the crimes and sentenced to death.
Medellin’s lawyers argued he was not informed upon his arrest of his right to contact Mexican consular officials. Those officials were not able to meet with him until after his conviction.
The Mexican government filed an appeal against the United States with the International Court of Justice in January 2003, alleging violations of international law. Medellin filed his own federal and state appeals based on similar complaints as well as a claim of ineffective counsel. Medellin has the support of the European Union and several international human rights groups.
Texans don’t like people messing with them, and the U.S. don’t like nobody messing with them. Medellin is screwed in at least two ways.
Personally, I like the way we deal with this on the high seas. It’s a curious thing when “man overboard” elicits a cheer of praise from the scaliwags.
Robot Pirate Ninja 