[jwalsh07]

I wonder if this is one of those cases were some of the Justices considered International Law in their decision?

Funny you should say that. Last night I read the debate between Scalia and Breyer on just that issue. Breyer stated he would continue to read and cite such cases.

[Phocion]

There's no need to invoke foreign law. There's plenty of precedent in the US Supreme Court history for setting the bar of "cruel and unusual".