Canseco calls on Prez to not interfere in Texas Justice

Quico Canseco (photo) Calls on President George Bush Not to Interfere in Texas Justice System, saying that Texas law should not to be superseded by International Criminal Court


San Antonio, Texas — Quico Canseco today announced that he is has sent a letter to President George W. Bush urging him not to interfere in the State of Texas criminal justice system. Canseco said he has also sent a letter to Texas Governor Rick Perry urging him to take any and all measures to ensure that the executive branch of the federal government does not interfere with the scheduled execution of a Mexican National who a Texas jury found guilty of capitol murder.

Canseco, a Republican candidate for the United States Congress in the 23rd District of Texas said the letters were sent in response to President Bush’s call for the State of Texas to commute the death sentence of Jose Ernesto Medellin in accordance with a ruling of the International Criminal Court in The Hague . The case was brought against the United States by the Republic of Mexico because of that nation’s claim that Medellin and 50 other Mexican nationals sentenced to death in the United States were not given appropriate access to Mexican diplomats as their criminal cases were being adjudicated.

A Texas jury convicted Jose Ernesto Medellin of capitol murder and a judge sentence him to death for the 1993 gang-rape and murder of two teenage girls in Houston . Medallin was arrested and confessed to participating in the rape and murder but was not told by police that he could have access to the Mexican consulate.

Two of his accomplices had their death sentences commuted to life because they were under 17 at the time, another is awaiting his execution date and one has already been executed.

Medallin’s brother – who was 14 at the time – was tried as a juvenile and is serving 40 years.

“To have the executive branch of the Federal Government attempt to exert its will on the State of Texas in order to appease the wishes of the International Court of Justice is ridiculous and unconstitutional under both the US and Texas Constitutions,” said Canseco, an attorney for over 30 years.

Canseco said that the International Court of Justice at The Hague in the Netherlands has been attempting to impose its anti-death penalty views on the United States since its creation. “Even President Bush has fought with the court in regards to its jurisdiction over American citizens,” said Canseco. “The executive branch would now have Texas abide by the court’s decision on the grounds that it is now diplomatically convenient to do so but that is no reason to ask the state to give up its sovereignty over its own criminal justice system,” he added.

“The Texas laws that impose the death penalty for convicted capitol felons have been tested in the courts repeatedly to insure that the safety of our citizens is protected and that vile and murderous acts are punished to the satisfaction of the law and society,” Canseco continued.

Canseco said that in his letter he reminded President Bush that when he was Governor of Texas he had routinely rejected the efforts of outside interests to interfere with the state’s criminal justice system and its use of capitol punishment.

“ Texas is being asked by the White House to spare this individual the death penalty for brutally raping and then murdering two defenseless teenage girls simply in order to satisfy the order of a foreign court. One of the codefendants has already paid with his life according to the Texas law. The people of the state of Texas meted out a just penalty and it would be a gross miscarriage of justice to allow Mr. Medallin, as the Federal executive branch would like, to escape his just due punishment. Those two young girls and their families deserve better,” added Canseco.