John B. Bellinger III, served as legal adviser to the U.S. Department of State during the administration of President George W. Bush. Bellinger writes a Letter to the Editor of the New York Times, "Congress and a Treaty."
Re “The Treaty and the Law” (editorial, June 18):
You are right to urge Congress to pass legislation to require federal courts to review the convictions of certain foreign nationals, including 40 Mexicans, on death row in Texas and other states who were not notified by state officials of their right to speak to a consular officer of their governments, in violation of United States treaty obligations. But you did not mention that review of the convictions of the Mexicans was mandated by a 2004 decision of the International Court of Justice.
And:
Some members of Congress may now be reluctant to take action to comply with a World Court decision, but they should recognize, as the Bush administration did, that the United States cannot expect other countries to comply with their treaty obligations to us unless we comply with our treaty obligations to them.
Earlier coverage of the Leal case and the federal legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate begins with today's Houston Chronicle editorial. The Times editorial is noted at this link.
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