Outrage: Texas jury dispenses justice, International Court of Justice (and now Bush Administration) say “No fair.”
The Crime:
Do you have children?
On June 24, 1993, teenage girls Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena met an untimely death when they left a party in Houston. In order to get home by their 11:30 p.m. curfew, the girls took a shortcut through T.C. Jester Park. When they reached a bayou near a railroad trestle, they were confronted by six members of a loose-knit gang who savagely raped, tortured, and then beat and strangled them to death. The girls’ bodies were found days later.
The crime was so heinous, even the professionals were stunned.
“It’s a crime even among capital crimes that stands out for its gruesomeness and its barbarity,” said R. Ted Cruz, the Texas solicitor general.
One of the murderers was Jose Medellin, an illegal immigrant. Medellin had no regrets about what he had done. He bragged about the crime to his cousin and gave one of the girl’s rings to his girlfriend. He laughed and joked in court. His brother kept Ertman’s Disney-brand Goofy watch as a trophy.
The Punishment:
A Texas jury wasted no time in finding the gang members, including Medellin, guilty. Medellin was sentenced to death. They were ready to wipe that smile off of Medellin’s face.
The Outrage:
Unfortunately, Medellin has now been on death row longer than Jennifer Ertman was alive. But don’t blame the state of Texas. They would like to dispatch Medellin to the hell where he belongs. But the International Court of Justice (and now the Bush Administration) say “No fair.” They would like to see the challenge that Mr. Medellin has mounted to his conviction and sentencing go forward. All because of a technicality of international treaty law.
It seems that, when Mr. Medellin was given his rights, he was not told that he had access to the Mexican Consulate. Bear in mind that Medellin was never denied access to the consulate. He was just never told that he could request their assistance.
Based on this perceived violation of Mr. Medellin’s civil rights, our friends the Mexican government sued the United States in the International Court of Justice.
The court found in favor of Mexico. They found the US in violation of the Vienna Convention. They also ordered the convictions and sentences of 50 other Mexican nationals on death row to be reviewed.
The Bush Administration objected, but then requested that the state of Texas to comply with the international court’s ruling. The great state of Texas said “To heck with that.” The whole thing will be now argued before the Supreme Court starting on Wednesday. At stake is whether a president has the authority to require a state court to set aside a state law, or in this case, a duly-reached court verdict.
A little irony #1.
The International Court of Justice is a part of the United Nations, which daily overlooks the despotic actions of petty tyrants and dictators worldwide. However, in this case, they sprang to action and ruled against the US. Shocka.
A little irony #2.
In “sanctuary” cities and towns around the country where the police are not even allowed to check a suspect’s immigration status, how on earth would you prevent this kind of thing from happening every day?
A little irony #3.
When Jose Medellin sits before the Supreme Court, at his side will be Donald Francis Donovan, his lawyer. Mr. Donovan is from New York, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Human Rights First, an activist group that claims as part of its mission statement:
“Human Rights First believes that building respect for human rights and the rule of law will help ensure the dignity to which every individual is entitled and will stem tyranny, extremism, intolerance, and violence.”
Of course Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena were victims of extreme violence. They are also deceased and do not enjoy protection of their civil rights.
*************
Do you have comments, questions or story tips? Email me at “blogger@orderontheborder.com”
