Condemned Mexican inmates denied appeals

updated 9:16 p.m. ET March 31, 2008

HOUSTON - Seven Mexican-born inmates on Texas' death row lost their bid Monday to state their case before the U.S. Supreme Court, following the court's ruling last week that another Mexican-born inmate's case couldn't be reopened despite an order from President Bush.

Justices last week voted 6-3 against hearing the case of Jose Medellin, convicted of the rape-slayings of two Houston teenagers 15 years ago, saying Bush overstepped his authority by trying to order Texas to reopen Medellin's case. That decision removed a legal hurdle blocking Medellin's execution.

An international court ruled in 2004 that the convictions of Medellin and 50 other Mexicans on death row around the United States violated the 1963 Vienna Convention, which provides that people arrested abroad be given access to their home country's consular officials.

The International Court of Justice, also known as the world court, said the Mexican prisoners should have new court hearings to determine whether the violation affected their cases.

But the Supreme Court said Monday that Texas could ignore the international court's ruling in favor of granting new hearings.

The seven inmates whose cases were denied review Monday are among 14 native Mexicans on death row in Texas. Inmates whose cases were rejected Monday include Cesar Fierro, 51; Ruben Cardenas, 37; Felix Rocha, 31; Virgilio Maldonado, 42; Robert Ramos, 53; Humberto Leal Garcia, 35 and Ignacio Gomez, 38.

Mexico, which has no death penalty, sued the United States in the world court in 2003. Mexico and other opponents of capital punishment have sought to use the world court to fight for foreigners facing execution in the U.S.

All executions are on hold until the Supreme Court decides a Kentucky case that challenges the constitutionality of lethal injection, the method used for capital punishment in Texas and most other states with the death penalty. A decision in the case is expected by early summer.

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