WASHINGTON

HIGH COURT REBUFFS MEXICAN’S DEATH ROW APPEAL

The Supreme Court yesterday turned aside an appeal by a Mexican citizen on death row in Texas who contended he and 50 other Mexicans should have their death sentences overturned because they were improperly denied legal help from their consulates – in violation of international law. In an unsigned decision, justices dismissed as premature the case of Jose Medellin, who argued he was entitled to a federal court hearing on whether his rights were violated when a Texas court tried and sentenced him to death in 1994 on rape and murder charges – without consular access. The court cited a last-minute maneuver by President Bush ordering state courts to revisit the issue, making Supreme Court intervention unnecessary at this time. It reserved the right to hear the appeal again once the case had run its full course in state court. “In light of the possibility that the Texas courts will provide Medellin with the review he seeks,” the opinion stated, “we think it would be unwise to reach and resolve the multiple hindrances to dispositive answers to the questions here presented.” The case, which attracted worldwide attention, was seen as a test of how much weight the Supreme Court would give in domestic death penalty cases to the International Court of Justice in Hague, which ruled last year that the 51 convictions violated the 1963 Vienna Convention.

– Associated Press

SENATE BRIEFLY RECESSES AFTER PLANE SCARE

The Senate recessed for a brief period last night after an unidentified plane entered Washington’s restricted airspace, two weeks after another airplane caused emergency evacuations of the White House and Capitol. The pilot of the earlier plane has now lost his license as an “unacceptable risk to safety,” the Federal Aviation Administration said earlier in the day. There was no evacuation yesterday. The private Cessna was intercepted by military jets and later landed in Gaithersburg, Md., north of the capital, the Transportation Security Administration said. At the Capitol, where senators were heading into an all-night debate over filibusters and judicial nominations, Majority Leader Frist called for a recess just after 6 p.m. and left the chamber. Others present did not leave. Seven minutes later, Capitol Police sent out an e-mail reading: “An unidentified aircraft violated the restricted airspace and was escorted out of the area.” Soon after debate resumed.

– Associated Press

SOUTH

FEDERAL JUDGE DENIES BID TO MOVE FORMER PROFESSOR’S TERRORIST TRIAL

TAMPA, FLA. – A federal judge yesterday denied a request to move the trial of a former Florida college professor accused of supporting Palestinian Arab terrorists. The defense had contended jurors might be prejudiced by publicity about the case. The U.S. district judge, James Moody, said in his ruling that the request by Sami Al-Arian was based on the jurors’ “presumed prejudice,” and some prejudices about Muslims and Arabs would occur no matter where the case was tried. A jury was selected last week. The trial, with testimony set to begin June 6, is expected to take six months.

– Associated Press

SOUTHWEST

PA. MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO SELL BOMB

HOUSTON – A man who told undercover agents he has “no loyalty for America” has been charged with trying to build a bomb and sell it to an affiliate of Al Qaeda, officials said yesterday. Ronald Grecula, 68, of Bangor, Pa., was arrested Friday in Houston during a meeting with undercover FBI agents, U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby said. At the meeting, Mr. Grecula indicated a willingness to build and sell an explosive device that would be used against Americans, officials alleged in court documents. Mr. Grecula was set to appear in court yesterday afternoon. He has been charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, specifically Al Qaida, a news release from Mr. Shelby’s office said. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and fined $250,000.

– Associated Press