Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- The U.N.'s highest court ordered U.S. authorities yesterday to do everything possible to halt the executions of five Mexicans in Texas until their cases are reviewed.
The World Court told U.S. authorities in 2004 to review the cases of 51 Mexicans sentenced to death by state courts after finding they had been denied the right to seek help from consular officials.
The World Court has no enforcement powers but President Bush issued a directive to the Texas courts to abide by the 2004 ruling. The state courts refused to review the cases and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in March that the president cannot compel the state courts to comply.
The first of the Mexicans, Jose Medellin, is scheduled to be killed by lethal injection on Aug. 5 for taking part in the gang rape and murder of two teenage girls 15 years ago.
Copyright 2008 P.G. Publishing Co.