Some good news [5] from the Supremes yesterday:
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that President Bush overstepped his authority when ordering state courts to review the death sentences of dozens of Mexican nationals on death row.
The 6-3 decision in Medellin vs. Texas said the president can't force state courts to adhere to a
ruling by the International Court of Justice.
The 1963 Vienna Convention says foreigners should have access to their consulate when arrested, and in 2004 the international court ruled that the death row inmates should get new hearings to see if not having that access affected the outcome of their cases.
After the international court's decision, President Bush directed state courts to review the cases. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals balked, ruling the president did not have the authority to issue such an order. ...
Mr. Cruz said "the World Court cannot force Texas to release duly convicted murderers. ... Fifteen years after two innocent teenage girls were brutally gang raped and murdered, their grieving families are a step closer to justice."
The Supreme Court's ruling said that while the U.S. had entered into the 1963 Vienna Convention, it is not binding on the states without a law being passed by Congress.
Exactly. Seems like a pretty important (and what should be obvious) principle to point out. You know, sovereign country, state's rights and all that. With any luck, this type of common sense will be a harbinger of good things to come, (such as on that pending DC gun rights case).
