Why Doesn't the U.S. Accept the International Criminal Court?

The case of José Medellin, who didn't get access to the Mexican consulate so had his execution sentence ruled against by the Supremes, still stews. Texas continues to push for the death of a convicted criminal, and depends on the brutality of the crime to whitewash the damage it does to treaties and those protected by them. Someday, I may be traveling abroad. If I am arrested I might want access to my country's representatives. The precedent this sets may keep me from having it.

Despite the horrific nature of the crime, defense attorney Donovan said it "would be fundamentally unjust" for Gov. Perry to not respect the commitment made under the treaty "by the American people as a whole."

"In Texas, like the rest of the United States, a deal is a deal," he said.

And, he added, Americans overseas could face consequences. "I think the people of Texas, just like the rest of the American people, would not want Texas to do anything that would jeopardize the safety of Americans living, traveling, and working abroad."

'Profoundly wrong'

Despite Mr. Perry's determination not to halt the execution, Mr. Donovan seems confident the lethal injection will be stopped. "For Texas to go forward would be profoundly wrong," he said. "And we believe if Texas insists on going forward with this execution that a Texas court or a federal court will step in, including the Supreme Court."

Others doubt the political pressure or legal maneuvers will have much effect at either the state or national level.

The status of a treaty in conflict with a state's findings may be a difficult decision, but with its history of wrongful convictions, Texas should be very, very careful how it proceeds. The very ugly head of racism has been obvious in the discussion of this case, and the references to illegals often contain mention of crime against U.S. citizens. Killing to satisfy anti-immigration feelings is a threat to all justice.