Mexican executed after Obama appeal rejected

WASHINGTON – A Mexican man was put to death Thursday by Texas authorities after the Supreme Court, on a 5-4 vote, refused an appeal from the Obama administration.

Humberto Leal Garcia, 38, was given a lethal injection for the 1994 rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl.

His case drew the attention of the Mexican and U.S. governments because Texas officials did not notify the Mexican consulate at the time of his arrest and trial, a violation of the Vienna Convention treaty.

U.S. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. urged the Supreme Court to stop the execution, saying it would have “serious repercussions” for U.S. relations with Mexico and the European Union. He said the Senate has before it a bill that would give inmates like Leal a chance to have their convictions reviewed.

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority rejected the appeal. “We are doubtful it is ever appropriate to stay a lower court judgment in light of unenacted legislation. Our task is to rule on what the law is, not what it might eventually be,” the court said.