US violated 51 Mexicans’ rights, says world court

THE International Court of Justice ruled yesterday that the United States violated the rights of 51 Mexicans on death row and ordered their cases be reviewed.

The United Nations’ highest judiciary, also known as the world court, was considering a suit filed by Mexico claiming 52 convicted murderers weren’t given their right to assistance from their government.

“The US should provide meaningful review of the conviction and sentence” of the Mexicans, presiding Judge Shi Jiuyong said.

Judge Shi said the review, in all but three cases, could be carried out under the normal US appeals process.

But for three men who have already exhausted all other appeals, the court said the United States should make an exception and review their cases one last time.

The court found that in the remaining case, the convict had received his rights and the case didn’t need to be reviewed.

At the heart of the Mexico-US case is the 1963 Vienna Convention, which guarantees people accused of a serious crime while abroad the right to contact their own government and to be informed of that right by arresting authorities.

The United States had argued the case was a sovereignty issue, and the tribunal should be wary of allowing itself to be used as a criminal appeals court.

In its written arguments, the United States said Mexico’s request would be a “radical intrusion” into the US justice system, contradicting laws and customs.