Texas to ICJ: We're Not Bound

José Medellín is still scheduled to be executed by the State of Texas on August 5 despite the International Court of Justice's provisional measures order on Wednesday that called on the United States to "take all measures necessary to ensure" that he and four other Mexican nationals are not executed pending the decision of the Court on the merits of Mexico's request for interpretation of the Avena judgment. The Texas Governor's office, to no one's surprise, is reported to have said Thursday: "The world court has no standing in Texas and Texas is not bound by a ruling or edict from a foreign court. . . . It is easy to get caught up in discussions of international law and justice and treaties. It's very important to remember that these individuals are on death row for killing our citizens."