Federal officials try to block Texas execution to allow review of case

The Dallas Morning News ^ | Monday, July 28, 2008 | DIANE JENNINGS

[sheana]

Fourteen years and numerous judicial reviews have passed since José Medellin was sentenced to die after confessing to the brutal gang rape and murder of two teenage girls in Houston.

JOSÉ MEDELLIN That's long enough, state officials say. It's time to carry out the sentence.

But defense attorneys, and an unusual coalition of federal officials, including no less than the attorney general and secretary of state, say if his Aug. 5 execution is not stayed, so Mr. Medellin's case can be reviewed one more time at the behest of the International Court of Justice, Texas will be rushing to judgment and endangering Americans abroad.

[TommyDale]

Fry him!

[Ditter]

I have a party planned for the day this piece of filth is no longer breathing Texas air. What they did to these 2 young girls is unspeakable.

[A_Former_Democrat]

Burn, baby, burn.

[Jeff Head]

Stand firm Texas. As Jodge Roy Bean said west of the Pecos..."Some people need killin'"

Medellin and his cohorts fit that definition to a tee and the innocent blood of those two young girls has been crying for it for far too long.

The best efforts of Mexican officials, the World Court, and the foolishness of the State Department and the Attorney Generla of the United States notwithstanding.

August 5th is coming quickly and Texas needs to stand its ground.

Most Texans have a deep seated, historical notion about bowing to demands from Mexico City or any place like the United Nations...and with good reason.

[goldstategop]

Texas should inform the federal government the enforcement of Texas law is Texas business and the state will not submit to a foreign jurisdiction.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[A message]

at the behest of the International Court of Justice

( This comment has been deleted.)

[TommyDale]

I will even volunteer to fly down and administer the execution myself. I would rather see him suffer and his head burst into flames in Old Sparky, however.

[sheana]

Texas should inform the federal government the enforcement of Texas law is Texas business and the state will not submit to a foreign jurisdiction.

In this case it seems the ‘foreign jurisdiction’ is Mukasey and Rice. They need to quit “scrambling” and stand up for Americans.....for a change.

[seanrobins]

Let’s not cede any more of our sovereignty to foreign officials, and to non- (and un-) American interests.

International Court of Justice?

We don’t need to stinkin’ International Court of Justice!

[Robe]

Fourteen years and numerous judicial reviews have passed since José Medellin was sentenced to die after confessing to the brutal gang rape and murder of two teenage girls in Houston.

Fourteen years and they're saying "Texas will be rushing to judgment"?

Give me a @&%$ing break !!!!

[Non-Sequitur]

But defense attorneys, and an unusual coalition of federal officials, including no less than the attorney general and secretary of state...

Just what in hell is this idiotic administration thinking?

[gridlock]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that the Governor does not have the authority to delay the execution, and the only way to stop it is to grant clemency and reduce the sentence to Life.

In 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled Mr. Medellin's case deserved review to determine if lack of consulate assistance harmed him.

The President should just issue a finding that after review he finds that the lack of consulate assistance did not harm any of these defendants and let the system proceed.

[Congressman Billybob]

So the anti-death penalty crowd says that this slime ball who CONFESSED should not be executed because "Americans traveling abroad might suffer"? What unmitigated codswallop. If any Americans traveling abroad happen to kidnap, rape and murder two teenaged girls, I expect that they, too, would get the death penalty.

Did I miss anything here?

Congressman Billybob

Eighth in the ten-part series, "The Owner's Manual (Part 8) -- Other Articles Including Amendment"

Latest article, "Three Tours de France"

[bestintxas]

My fear is our Governor Perry is looking to score brownie points in DC Beltway circles by going along with this nonsense.

A person who rapes and kills innocents is not worth any more of my tax money or time, regardless of international immunity or whatever.

Watch Perry’s move.. am afraid it will be an appeasing one.

[sheana]

The President should just issue a finding that after review he finds that the lack of consulate assistance did not harm any of these defendants and let the system proceed.

hahahahahahahaha (holding my sides) rofl lol hahahahahahaha.
Thanks for the best laugh today. ;)

[DoughtyOne]

"Put simply, the United States seeks the help of the State of Texas," Attorney General Michael Mukasey and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrote Texas Gov. Rick Perry in a letter released by defense attorneys.

"We respectfully request that Texas take the steps necessary to give effect to the ...decision," the June letter says.

If nothing else did, this would eliminate Condolezza Rice from ever being someone I would support for President.  If this is her level of respect for our sovereignty, her level of comprehension regarding the facts of this case, then I've seen enough.

Who doe she decide to whine on behalf of?  Does she address the plight of the two girls who were ruthlessly slaughtered?  I'd be forever humiated to know I had fronted for the bastard that participated in their abuse and brutal merciless slaughter.

Condi, shame on you.  You view this as a matter of supporting due proces.  I look at it as being complicit after the fact.  This man has had his day in court.  He received justice.  Any steps beyond this are simply fronting for the bastard, and creating a prescident where the ICC is acknowledged to be an authority above our own justice system and Supreme Court. Condi, for all your credentials, you certainly fail to impress on some matters.

[CindyDawg]

He’s already told them to pound sand once.

[sheana]

Sounds like you got it Billybob. Boils down to.......

we can’t keep them out
they don’t have to follow our laws
we can’t punish them without approval when they do break our laws

Sounds about right to me.

[Gay State Conservative]

What bullbleep.Any American with an IQ above 70 knows that there are certain countries...many,in fact....that are so backward and/or corrupt that you seriously endanger yourself,"police-wise",simply by stepping across their border.And of the countries that don't belong in this category there are some that have very different policies regarding certain things...like drugs,for example.

So if you go to a Second or Third World hellhole like Russia or Mexico don't be surprised if you're hassled (or imprisoned...or executed) for no good reason.And if you go to a civilized country like Singapore (for example) don't be surprised if you're sentenced to death for that 10 grams of heroin they found in your bag at the airport.

Endangering Americans abroad? What bullbleep!