Seven out of Texas lose in light of Medellin

Seven out of Texas lose in light of Medellin

Mar 31st, 2008

Following in the wake of Medellin, a slew of cert denials from Texas. AP notes

7 Mexican-born inmates on Texas’ death row lost their bids for appeal Monday 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 2 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.. . .

The 7 inmates whose cases were denied review Monday are among 14 native Mexicans on death row in Texas. Inmates whose cases were rejected include Cesar Fierro, one of the longest-serving condemned prisoners in the state. Fierro, 51, was convicted of the 1979 robbery-slaying of an El Paso taxi driver. He’s been on death row more than 28 years.

Other condemned prisoners to lose Monday:

-Ruben Cardenas, 37, convicted of the rape-slaying of a 16-year-old girl abducted from Edinburg in 1997.

-Felix Rocha, 31, convicted of the slaying and robbery of a security guard outside a Houston club in 1994.

-Virgilio Maldonado, 42, condemned for a 1995 robbery and slaying at a Houston apartment complex.

-Robert Ramos, 53, convicted of the 1992 slayings of his wife and 2 children at their home in Progreso in Hidalgo County.

-Humberto Leal Garcia, 35, condemned for the abduction, rape and fatal bludgeoning of a 16-year-old San Antonio girl in 1994.

-Ignacio Gomez, 38, convicted of the fatal shooting of 3 people in El Paso in 1996.