[TFine80]

Not informing Mexico? I thought we're not allowed to ask for any ID, Vicente. How are we supposed to know?

[skip_intro]

The Mexican government would have provided a more competent defense had it known of the case, she added.

Nothing's too good for Mexico's illegal aliens, as long as they're not in Mexico.

[26lemoncharlie]

What the Hell is this World COurt doing sticking their European stinking noses into whats going on in this Country? What juristiction do these asses have here. Whay is the Supremem Court of the US even listening to them. Have our representatives agreed to give up our US LAWS amd Legal practices to an International Court? Has anyone here heard of or been informed of an agreement that make us libel in some way to this International Court?

We need to make sure that our Senators and Representatives know and understand that we will never agree to this type of an arangement and that if they have agreed to or entered into any contract that would bring any US Citizen or this country under the Jurisdiction of any other Court other than the US Courts it is null and void. We cannot allow this to happen or our Citizenship in a Constitutional Republic will be no more.

The Dimms and the Republicans just won't hear the American People, we have no place else to go for representation in Congress: Let's see, elections 2006,

Constitutional Party,
http://www.constitutionparty.com/

America First Party,
http://www.americafirstparty.org/

Independant American Party
http://www.usiap.org/

The American Party
http://www.theamericanparty.org/

[RonF]

When the United States of America signs an international treaty, it becomes part of our body of law, and we are bound to abide by it. This is in accordance with Section VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution:

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

If a treaty we signed says that a foreign national arrested for a crime is due certain rights, and we did not accord him those rights, then it is a fit subject for appeal. Now, I'm not saying that's what happened in this case. I don't know the particulars of this case, nor am I familiar with the details of any applicable treaty.

But, if the State of Texas violated this treaty, then the Supreme Court has every obligation to review the case; not to apply "international" law, or to take notice of any statements by the World Court, but to apply U.S. law, which is what a treaty is once it's signed by the President and approved by the Senate.

[dennisw]

This killer needs to be dispatched ASAP. It's a crying shame that some effin' world court seems to have precedence over a state court. Texas in this case. It's a double curse of Mexico sending us some of their worst. In this case the killer was in a Mexican gang.

Then when these (usually) illegal immigrant Mexicans kill here, Mexico tries to prevent us from applying the death penalty.

[usadave]

In May, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals acknowledged that Medellin had never been informed of his right to contact the Mexican consul.

I'm just wondering if Medellin ever made a request to contact the Mexican consul. I know that if I were ever arrested on a serious charge in a foreign country, I would demand to speak to somebody from the U.S. embassy.

[BikerNYC]

This paragraph is from another story:

At his 1994 trial for a gang-related murder, Mr. Medellín, an indigent 18-year-old, was given a court-appointed lawyer who called no witnesses. Unknown to the trial judge at the time, Mr. Medellín's lawyer had been suspended from law practice for ethical violations. At the penalty phase of the trial, which lasted two hours, the lawyer put on only one expert witness, a psychologist who had never met Mr. Medellín.

As someone who practiced criminal defense law for 15 years, all I can say is, shocking.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I think if anyone desires protection under the 14th Amendment Sect. 1 of The Constitution of The United States of America, they should naturally be bound by all other laws of the land.

String him up and to hell with what any foreign state thinks about it.

[wildbill]

This notification issue is a requirement negotiated by treaty with Mexico--and it's damn important protection for Americans charged with felonies in Mexico.

How would you like to be in a Mexican jail where they "have ways of making you talk" and not have the right to get some assistance from American consular authorities?

At least they could notify your family where to pick up your body or direct your wife to the correct prison for conjugal visits.

If the Texas authorities screwed up, then they ought to be able to retry this guy and their case should be airtight, no matter what the Mexican government does to help defend him.