Texas doesn't fuck around

[Taylor]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5890690.html

July 17, 2008, 9:32AM
Texas still plans to execute killer despite U.N. order


By ALLAN TURNER and ROSANNA RUIZ
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

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CHRONOLOGY

• March 31, 2004: The United Nation's International Court of Justice issued an order that U.S. courts must review the cases of 51 condemned Mexican prisoners. The court ruled the prisoners' rights to speak with Mexican consular officials after their arrests had been violated.

• Feb. 28, 2005 : President Bush directed state courts to abide by the world court's decision. He also asked Texas specifically to review the case of Jose Medellin, now scheduled to die by lethal injection Aug. 5.

• March 25, 2008 : The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Bush could not compel Texas to review Medellin's case. Chief Justice John Roberts said the president cannot unilaterally carry out an international treaty without concurrence of the legislative branch.

• June 20: The Mexican government made an emergency appeal to the U.N.'s highest court to block the executions of its citizens on death row in the U.S.

• July 16 : The world court ordered the U.S. to halt the five pending executions of Mexican nationals on Texas' death row.

WORLD COURT

Some facts about the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court:
• Established: 1945

• Location: The Hague, Netherlands

• Role: Judicial arm of the United Nations.

• Decisions: Binding on member countries. No appeal, the court cannot enforce judgments.

• Justices: 15 justices, each elected to nine-year terms by the U.N. General Assembly or the U.N. Security Council.

• Lawsuits: Court acts on matters brought by member states; individuals cannot bring suits.

Source: New York Times Almanac
Texas will go ahead with the scheduled Aug. 5 execution of Houston rapist-killer Jose Medellin despite Wednesday's United Nations world court order for a stay, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry said.

The U.N.'s International Court of Justice's call for stays in the cases of Medellin and four other Mexican nationals awaiting execution in Texas came in response to a petition filed last month by the Mexican government.

The petition sought to halt executions to allow for review of the killers' cases to determine whether denying them access to the Mexican Consulate after arrest impaired their trial defenses.

The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations stipulates that, upon request, an alien offender's national consulate must be notified of his arrest.

In its order, the world court quotes the Mexican government's argument that "Texas has made clear that unless restrained, it will go forward with the execution without providing Mr. Medellin the mandated review and reconsideration," which will "irreparably" breach the U.S. government's obligations to the court's 2004 order.

The Mexican government reasons that "the paramount interest in human life is at stake," according to the court's order. If Medellin and the other nationals are executed without additional court reviews, "Mexico would forever be deprived of the opportunity to vindicate its rights and those of the nationals concerned."

Perry's office dismissed the argument.

"The world court has no standing in Texas and Texas is not bound by a ruling or edict from a foreign court," Perry spokesman Robert Black said. "It is easy to get caught up in discussions of international law and justice and treaties. It's very important to remember that these individuals are on death row for killing our citizens."

But international law expert Sarah Cleveland, a professor of human and constitutional rights at New York City's Columbia Law School, said if the U.S. fails to act on the world court order, other countries may follow suit.

"This can only come back to hurt U.S. citizens when they are detained abroad," she wrote in an e-mail. " ... When a global leader like the U.S. refuses to comply with its clear international legal obligations (and everyone agrees that this is a clear legal obligation), it undermines the willingness of other states to comply with their own obligations and it inspires them not to trust us to obey ours."


Deadly gang initiation
Medellin, 33, was condemned for the 1993 killings of Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Peña, 16, who stumbled into a drunken midnight gang initiation rite at T.C. Jester Park in northwest Houston.

One of Medellin's accomplices, Derrick O'Brien, was executed in July 2006. Also sentenced to die is gang leader Peter Anthony Cantu. Three other accomplices are serving prison sentences. Medellin was the only non-American involved in the murders.

Wednesday's U.N. court decision in The Hague, Netherlands, was the latest development in an ongoing legal wrangle that has involved President Bush, the U.S. Supreme Court and the Mexican government.

In 2004, the U.N. court ordered a review of the cases of 51 Mexican nationals facing execution in the United States because they had not been allowed to speak with their nation's consular officials.

In February 2005, Bush directed state courts to abide by the U.N. court decision, specifically asking Texas to review Medellin's case.

In March, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Bush had overstepped his authority. Chief Justice John Roberts said the president cannot order such court reviews without congressional concurrence.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., filed a bill providing for such reviews. As of Wednesday, it was in committee.

Weeks after the Supreme Court's ruling, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey jointly wrote Perry asking for his help in obtaining the reviews.

The United States, they wrote, continues to be bound by the world court's decision under international law.


Girls' fathers adamant
Meanwhile, Randy Ertman, father of Jennifer Ertman, hotly denounced the world court's order for stays.

"The world court don't mean diddly," he said. "This business belongs in the state of Texas. The people of the state of Texas support the execution. We thank them. The rest of them can go to hell."

Adolfo Peña, father of Elizabeth Peña, agreed.

"I believe we've been through all the red tape we can go through," he said. "It's time to rock and roll."

[silvercobra03]

God bless Texas

"The world court don't mean diddly," he said. "This business belongs in the state of Texas. The people of the state of Texas support the execution. We thank them. The rest of them can go to hell."


lol

[8mpg]

Rock On!

[whitetrash]

(Ron White)"other states are doing away with the death penalty, mines puttin in an express lane"(Ron White)

[thesource]

Fuck that son of a bitch ........

[92gt]

I'd even push the damn drugs!

[Strychnine]

Fuck the UN.

[Fox466]

Post seven expresses my sentiments rather well...

As for our citizens screwing up in other countries and paying the price, too damned bad. Don't want to do the time, don't do the crime...

[AL P]

Funny stuff. Kill that sorry mother fucker already....

[cannonball996]

first off I think they should be executed for what they did.

the problem is that the US helped to create this international legal system, we took a major role, agreed to it, and signed countless treaties supporting it, and actually won many cases because of it, not to mention countless American civilians and soldiers because of this international legal body. that said is it right for the US to pick and choose what international laws (these are signed treaties) it wants to follow?

if you don't like the treaty you signed then get out of it, but don't stay bound to it, and then pick and choose the rulings you wish to follow.

we went to war with Iraq because they did not follow the treaties that they had signed. we get work up with Iran when they do not abide by the treaties they have signed with the IAEA.

[Casper]

The cool part is, homie got narced on by his brother.

[jones4stangs]

In March, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Bush had overstepped his authority. Chief Justice John Roberts said the president cannot order such court reviews without congressional concurrence.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., filed a bill providing for such reviews. As of Wednesday, it was in committee.

Hold the execution until Congress makes a decision.

[David]

We need to be done with the UN

[Mustangman_2000]

Good news.

[Denny]

We need to be done with the UN
Damn skippy!

[Denny]

first off I think they should be executed for what they did.

the problem is that the US helped to create this international legal system, we took a major role, agreed to it, and signed countless treaties supporting it, and actually won many cases because of it, not to mention countless American civilians and soldiers because of this international legal body. that said is it right for the US to pick and choose what international laws (these are signed treaties) it wants to follow?

if you don't like the treaty you signed then get out of it, but don't stay bound to it, and then pick and choose the rulings you wish to follow.

we went to war with Iraq because they did not follow the treaties that they had signed. we get work up with Iran when they do not abide by the treaties they have signed with the IAEA.
Ya... look how the UN backed any of it too. :rolleyes: Fuck the UN... fuck them and fuck the UN's mother in her ass... IN HER ASS!

[cannonball996]

the UN is indeed necessary for international commerce, and countless other things.

and these treaties we have are designed to protect Americans abroad.

[silverhatch]

Damn when did Rick Perry grow a pair.

[whiteboy]

Kill them ;)

[Denny]

the UN is indeed necessary for international commerce, and countless other things.

and these treaties we have are designed to protect Americans abroad.
Bullshit. They're ignored and they never take the appropriate action when their directives are violated. All they do is post protest to those who do take action. Get real.

[Slowhand]

Fuck the UN.

Comin' straight out the underground.

[Slowhand]

the UN is indeed necessary for international commerce, and countless other things.

and these treaties we have are designed to protect Americans abroad.

LMAO! You've had a few too many sips of the "I swear I'm a moderate" Kool-Aid, haven't you?

[Denny]

LMAO! You've had a few too many sips of the "I swear I'm a moderate" Kool-Aid, haven't you?
He just sounds young.

[Vertnut]

The UN is a "paper tiger", and we are the only "teeth" it has. :cool: It's a waste of time, money, energy, and primo real estate.

[Slowhand]

The UN is a "paper tiger", and we are the only "teeth" it has. :cool: It's a waste of time, money, energy, and primo real estate.

I still find it hilarious that the US gives two times what the entire EU does to the UN hunger fund, and yet the UN still has the gall to bitch us out for not giving enough. :rolleyes:

[Vertnut]

I still find it hilarious that the US gives two times what the entire EU does to the UN hunger fund, and yet the UN still has the gall to bitch us out for not giving enough. :rolleyes:
It's never enough, no matter what we do for 1)World hunger, 2)AIDS in Africa, 3)Tsunami relief, etc... :cool:

[cannonball996]

you guys only focus on the things the UN does that you dont like, or agree with.
but fail to realize the benifits that we have all recieved from the UNs existance

[Denny]

It's never enough, no matter what we do for 1)World hunger, 2)AIDS in Africa, 3)Tsunami relief, etc... :cool:
Talk about wastes of money ;)

[Denny]

you guys only focus on the things the UN does that you dont like, or agree with.
but fail to realize the benifits that we have all recieved from the UNs existance
Bring on that massive list, oh informed one!

[HOOCBB]

you guys only focus on the things the UN does that you dont like, or agree with.
but fail to realize the benifits that we have all recieved from the UNs existance

Examples please?

[Vertnut]

you guys only focus on the things the UN does that you dont like, or agree with.
but fail to realize the benifits that we have all recieved from the UNs existance
You might should have left this alone. Is this a "Zara" starter-kit?

[01WhiteCobra]

Examples please?

For one it provides ample opportunity for DFWStangers to bitch about the UN.

[Vertnut]

For one it provides ample opportunity for DFWStangers to bitch about the UN.
That is impotent! ;)

[cannonball996]

there is the big one...none of the worlds powers have gone to war with each other since the UN was created. because of that capitalism flourished, and after all war is bad for business.

[Vertnut]

there is the big one...none of the worlds powers have gone to war with each other since the UN was created. because of that capitalism flourished, and after all war is bad for business.
The UN was founded in 1945. The Korean War was in '50-'52. Viet Nam from about '62-'75. We've whipped everyone else's ass.
The UN is a platform to beg us for money...

[cannonball996]

The UN was founded in 1945. The Korean War was in '50-'52. Viet Nam from about '62-'75. We've whipped everyone else's ass.
The UN is a platform to beg us for money...

korea and vietnam were not at the time, nor are they now, world powers.
as I stated, none of the worlds powers have gone to war with each other

[mikeb]

there is the big one...none of the worlds powers have gone to war with each other since the UN was created. because of that capitalism flourished, and after all war is bad for business.

capitalism was doing just fine before the UN was created.

The UN is nothing more than a (mostly) US taxpayer funded organization run by communists with a primary agenda to promote socialism/one world government.

Here is some light reading for you.

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0900comun.htm

[Vertnut]

korea and vietnam were not at the time, nor are they now, world powers.
as I stated, none of the worlds powers have gone to war with each other
...and as I stated, it's because we whipped everyone else's ass. :cool: Who's left? China? That remains to be seen.

[01WhiteCobra]

capitalism was doing just fine before the UN was created.

The UN is nothing more than a (mostly) US taxpayer funded organization run by communists with a primary agenda to promote socialism/one world government.

Here is some light reading for you.

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0900comun.htm

^ The opposite extreme view.

Like any other bureaucratic government agency the original purpose was fine (averting war) and their tentacles reached further and further until it became the piece of shit it is today.

[01WhiteCobra]

...and as I stated, it's because we whipped everyone else's ass. :cool: Who's left? China? That remains to be seen.

Those assholes might fuck up our medal count this year.

[Vertnut]

Those assholes might fuck up our medal count this year.
LOL!
And yes, as to your previous statement, the UN's testicles have really stretched out there... :p

[Vertnut]

capitalism was doing just fine before the UN was created.

The UN is nothing more than a (mostly) US taxpayer funded organization run by communists with a primary agenda to promote socialism/one world government.

Here is some light reading for you.

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0900comun.htm
Hey...does anyone know what 18 acres in Manhattan is worth? That's the property that WE paid for, including the building...

Oh yeah...the UN has a $4.2 billion operating budget, with 192 members. Guess what? We pay 22% of that budget, which is by far, the most. Go figure...

[360 Notch]

well I know the U.S. has a seat in the U.N. but where is the Texas member? As far as Im concerned Texas is its own country and the U.S. and U.N. can go jump in a lake.


just sayin.

[Vertnut]

well I know the U.S. has a seat in the U.N. but where is the Texas member? As far as Im concerned Texas is its own country and the U.S. and U.N. can go jump in a lake.


just sayin.
Agreed. We should secede from this bitch. We've got most of the oil and gas, beautiful women, and tons of land. ;) President Rick Perry? :o Well, I guess we don't have it ALL... ;)

[That_Is_My_El_Camino]

God bless Texas

"The world court don't mean diddly," he said. "This business belongs in the state of Texas. The people of the state of Texas support the execution. We thank them. The rest of them can go to hell."

lolFuck yes!

[Slowhand]

there is the big one...none of the worlds powers have gone to war with each other since the UN was created. because of that capitalism flourished, and after all war is bad for business.

Wow. You really are fucking ignorant, aren't you?

Despite what you have been told about FDR's social programs (which have in turned fucked us in the ass 80 years later) pulling the US out of the Great Depression, it was actually the wartime economy generated by a World War (WWII) that pulled this country out of the depression. It wasn't the New Deal, it wasn't the Tennessee Valley Authority, and it wasn't the Second New Deal. It was the stimulation that putting every able-bodied American to work brought, whether they were in a factory producing firearms, tanks and planes or were on the battlefield.

I'm not saying that war is always good for an economy, but it certainly isn't always bad.

And as far as your superpowers comment, what do you call the Cold War? Sure, the USSR and the US never had a head on collision, but they fought a series of proxy wars through/with other countries that all collaborated to be a part of the Cold War. Hell, the Cold War was an issue for the first 50 years of the UN's life, so your logic is well off base.

[talisman]

That's pretty good stuff.

[Denny]

there is the big one...none of the worlds powers have gone to war with each other since the UN was created. because of that capitalism flourished, and after all war is bad for business.
You credit the UN for that?!?! BAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

[Slowhand]

You credit the UN for that?!?! BAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

Lord help us all.

[cannonball996]

You credit the UN for that?!?! BAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
well YEAH

[David]

well YEAH
Awesome rebuttal.

[cannonball996]

thats the whole reason the UN was created, to prevent a world war. and it has worked

[Pro88LX]

Adolfo Peña, father of Elizabeth Peña, agreed.

"I believe we've been through all the red tape we can go through," he said. "It's time to rock and roll."

fucking greatness.

on a side note, i am SO FUCKING GLAD i moved here from commiefornia.

[Casper]

thats the whole reason the UN was created, to prevent a world war. and it has worked

Too bad the previous incarnation caused one. I guess 1 for 2 means it does no good nor bad, so its a noisy waste of money.

The UN is the world's fartpipe.

[cannonball996]

the league of nations did not involve the worlds powers, the US was not a member

[Casper]

the league of nations did not involve the worlds powers, the US was not a member

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA! It was Wilson's baby FCOL!

Even granting you a technicality, the US did not start all the crap in Europe, so a non-member was a peaceful member.

[svo855]

there is the big one...none of the worlds powers have gone to war with each other since the UN was created. because of that capitalism flourished, and after all war is bad for business.

I would argue that the possession of hydrogen bombs by all of the world powers has more to do with none of them going to war with each other. Saying that the existence of the UN prevents a war is foolish.

[8mpg]

I LOVE TEXAS


By MICHAEL GRACZYK, Associated Press Writer 23 minutes ago

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - A Mexican-born condemned prisoner was executed Tuesday night for the rape and murder of two teenage girls 15 years ago after a divided U.S. Supreme Court rejected his request for a reprieve.
ADVERTISEMENT

"I'm sorry my actions caused you pain. I hope this brings you the closure that you seek. Never harbor hate," Jose Medellin said to those gathered to watch him die. Nine minutes later, at 9:57 p.m., he was pronounced dead.

Medellin's execution, the fifth this year in the nation's busiest capital punishment state, attracted international attention after he raised claims he wasn't allowed to consult the Mexican consulate for legal help following his arrest. State officials say he didn't ask to do so until well after he was convicted of capital murder.

Medellin, 33, was condemned for participating in the 1993 gang rape, beating and strangling of Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 14. He and five fellow gang members attacked the Houston girls as they were walking home on a June night, raped and tortured them for an hour, then kicked and stomped them before using a belt and shoelaces to strangle them.

Their remains were found four days later. By then, Medellin already had bragged to friends about the killings.

Pena's father, who was among the witnesses, gently tapped the glass that separated him from Medellin as he turned to leave the witness chamber after the execution.

"We feel relieved," Adolfo Pena said after leaving the prison. "Fifteen years is a long time coming."

Several dozen demonstrators, about evenly divided between favoring and opposing capital punishment, stood outside on opposite sides of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Huntsville Unit.

Medellin's attorneys contended he was denied the protections of the Vienna Convention, which calls for people arrested to have access to their home country's consular officials.

"Under the circumstances, it's hard to talk about what comes next," lawyer Sandra Babcock said, noting her thoughts were with Medellin's family and the family of his victims. "But now more than ever, it's important to recall this is a case not just about one Mexican national on death row in Texas. It's also about ordinary Americans who count on the protection of the consulate when they travel abroad to strange lands. It's about the reputation of the United States as a nation that adheres to the rule of law."

In Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, where Medellin was born, a small group of his relatives condemned his execution.

"Only God has the right to take a life," cousin Reyna Armendariz said.

Six of his relatives, including Armendariz, and several activists gathered earlier Tuesday in a working-class neighborhood to await word on Medellin's fate.

A large black bow and a banner that read "No to the death penalty ... may God forgive you," hung from an iron fence in front of the house where Medellin lived until moving to the United States at the age of 3. He grew up in Houston, where he learned English and attended school.

The International Court of Justice said Medellin and some 50 other Mexicans on death row around the U.S. should have new hearings in U.S. courts to determine whether the 1963 treaty was violated during their arrests. Medellin was the first among them to die.

President Bush asked states to review the cases, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year neither the president nor the international court can force Texas to wait.

Gov. Rick Perry, Texas courts and the Texas attorney general's office all said the execution should go forward and that Medellin has had multiple legal reviews. State officials noted Medellin never invoked his consular rights under the Vienna Convention until some four years after he was convicted.

His lawyers asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to stop the execution until legislation could be passed to formalize case reviews ordered by the International Court of Justice.

The high court said in its ruling that that possibility was too remote to justify a stay. Justice Stephen Breyer, one of four justices who issued dissenting opinions, wrote that to permit the execution would place the United States "irremediably in violation of international law and breaks our treaty promises."

Medellin's supporters said either Congress or the Texas Legislature should have been given a chance to pass a law setting up procedures for new hearings. A bill to implement the international court's ruling wasn't introduced in Congress until last month. The Texas Legislature doesn't meet until January.

On Monday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request for a reprieve and denied his lawyers permission to file new appeals. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles also rejected requests for clemency and a 240-day reprieve.

One of Medellin's fellow gang members, Derrick O'Brien, was executed two years ago. Another, Peter Cantu, described as the ringleader of the group, is on death row. He does not have a death date.

Two others, Efrain Perez and Raul Villarreal, had their death sentences commuted to life in prison when the Supreme Court barred executions for those who were 17 at the time of their crimes. The sixth person convicted, Medellin's brother, Vernancio, was 14 at the time and is serving a 40-year prison term.

___

[mikeb]

We don't need no steenking international hearings.

Good riddance, although I suspect that mexico will try to nut up on the next person we want extradited here for justice, or the next americans caught doing something that they shouldn't be doing in mexico to make a point.

[That_Is_My_El_Camino]

Wow."Only God has the right to take a life," cousin Reyna Armendariz said.Maybe the pieces of shit should've thought about that before they violated the rights of those girls.

Good fucking riddance!

[JP135]

there is the big one...none of the worlds powers have gone to war with each other since the UN was created. because of that capitalism flourished, and after all war is bad for business.

Jesus, son, you're almost too ignorant to argue with!

You might want to look into this next phrase I'm gonna throw your way: Mutually Assured Destruction. If, by "worlds powers" (sic) you intend to identify The United States, Russia circa USSR and China, you might want to educate yourself. Had surface warfare between any of the 3 broken out, it would not be limited to conventional warfare. Nuclear (or nuc-u-lar if you prefer) warfare would've soon followed. But each of the super-powers possessed enough weapons in their nuclear arsenal to ensure complete and total destruction of the others, so that any nuclear attack would result in the destruction of the offending country. Sort of Mexican Standoff on a global scale. The UN had as much deterrent effect as a gnat on the ass of an elephant.

And as far as preventing wars goes, look into Korea and the UN's brilliant plan to bisect the country at the 38th parallel. The UN was supposed to keep the peace. The UN didn't seem to slow the Chinese down one bit as they crossed the DMZ and invaded South Korea.

The UN certainly helped in Africa and the Middle East, where their failures led to the very wars they were tasked with preventing. And Darfur? Check that out when you have a minute.

And war is good for business. War is a terrible thing, but it's a money making son of a bitch too.

[RoadW3@aol.com]

Don't forget what the UN did for our military surplus ammo from other counties. They stopped it from coming so we could have affordable ammo. That alone is enough for me to want to boot the UN out of everything.

Eric

[fitzwell]

Wow.Maybe the pieces of shit should've thought about that before they violated the rights of those girls.

Good fucking riddance!


Bingo!

I was amazed to see Gov Goodhair actually stand up for something.

[TexasDevilDog]

Robert Black, spokesman for Texas Governor Rick Perry, said the state would continue with the scheduled August 5 execution despite the International Court of Justice order for a stay. "The world court has no standing in Texas and Texas is not bound by a ruling or edict from a foreign court. It is easy to get caught up in discussions of international law and justice and treaties. It's very important to remember that these individuals are on death row for killing our citizens."

About sums it up for me too.

[forever_frost]

I love how his relatives were saying "Only God has the right to take a life." So...that makes this guy what? Thinking he's God? Funny, I didn't see him rising again after 3 days.

[Fox466]

Bingo!

I was amazed to see Gov Goodhair actually stand up for something.

I heard/read he refused to take calls from both the white house and mexican presidents... :cool:

[Sean88gt]

The UN needs lethal injection.

[fitzwell]

The UN needs a lethal injection.

fixed ;)

[slow06]

The UN should have never existed in the first place.

fixed again :D

[Vertnut]

I heard/read he refused to take calls from both the white house and mexican presidents... :cool:
For all the things I don't like about Perry, once he digs his heels in, you can piss on the fire and call the dogs in. It's done. That can be good or bad, but he doesn't waver very often.

[EW]

The UN would have the U.S.A. disarmed and under their control if they could. F the UN!

[Vertnut]

The UN would have the U.S.A. disarmed and under their control if they could. F the UN!
I'd say that's a pretty accurate statement.

[Sean88gt]

fixed ;)

I was speaking in terms of policy and people. They should give them out to everyone.