8.05.2008

Texas vs the ICJ

A Mexican citizen is scheduled to be executed tonight at 6 p.m. central time, despite an order from the International Court of Justice staying the execution of 51 Mexican nationals currently imprisoned and on death row in Texas, because they were not given access to Mexican Consulates upon arrest.

This article by a former US Ambassador highlights the reasons why the US should comply with the ICJ order, even though Texas is proceeding with the execution.

Interesting points from the article:
-the US made it's case to the ICJ during the Iranian hostage debacle
-"The U.S. Supreme Court, however, in the Medellin vs. Texas decision issued in March, held that although the United States -- and its individual states -- are indeed bound by international law to comply with the International Court of Justice decision," only action from Congress can force Texas' hand.
-US citizens are arrested in foreign countries all the time. If other states start ignoring the right to confer with home-state Consulates, what will happen to those US citizens?

How does a country go about stopping this particular clusterfuck?

1 comment:

Greg said...

Also, the opinion piece uses one of Adam's favorite words, "explicate."