Supreme Court May Not Decide Case of Death-Row Mexican

[Up2Late]

Mon Mar 28, 2005 02:21 PM ET

By James Vicini

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court justices questioned on Monday the need to decide the case of a Mexican on Texas' death row, after President Bush said the defendant and 50 other inmates should get new hearings because they weren't told of their right to talk to Mexican officials.

During arguments, the justices appeared inclined to avoid a decision on the merits in the case of Jose Medellin, who is on death row in Texas. He was denied the right to meet a consular officer from Mexico after his arrest for murder.

A month ago, Bush decided to comply with a World Court decision and said state courts should review the 51 cases to determine whether the violation of their rights caused them any harm at trial or at sentencing.

Although Bush called for review of the cases, he then withdrew the United States from the part of the treaty that gives the World Court enforcement authority to decide future disputes involving foreign inmates.

(more at link)

<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8014916&src=rss/topNews>