Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), a United Nations court, has unanimously found that the United States violated an international treaty when they executed a Mexican citizen in Texas last year.

Jose Medellin was executed by lethal injection after being convicted of raping and killing two teenagers. The ICJ found that his execution was unlawful because Medellin was denied access to his consulate upon arrest.

According to CNN, the United states has responded by stating, "Federal officials cannot force states to comply [with the treaty.] Administration officials also said that President [Bush] did all he could to force state compliance and that Congress now needs to intervene with specific legislation."