Letters to the Editor
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A seriously bad decision
Oh dear, so many Justices are dumb intelligent people.
Let's be clear, this is an international treaty that requires foreign governments to call the US Embassy or US Consulate when a US Citizen is charged with a crime in their country, prior to putting that person on trial. Some of these countries might (it's tough) have a court system lousier than Texas (which is pretty unconscionable anyway.)
This ia a pretty fundamental protection -- you find yourself in a strange place, charged with a crime, where you do not speak the language, you don't understand the system, you should at least get to talk to your consulate. Texas cops don't like that, it hurts their conviction rates, so they will do anything before complying, even if it means their nephew, niece or daughter getting the "rubber hose" treatment in Libya. The bottom line is that this treaty depends deeply on the courts to enforce it ... and the Supreme court just gave every Texas yutz a by on this one. It is to put it simply, fucking outrageous.
Now I am sure some police officers on this forum will be going -- so what, fine with me. Well I tell you what, let that yutz take someone else's place in front of a Thai firing squad, or in an Indian prison.