The U.S Supreme Court struck a blow for states’ rights Tuesday, and blunted the power of the White House a bit, as well.

The court ruled that President Bush had exceeded his authority by ordering Texas to reopen the case of a Mexican citizen on the state’s death row in two brutal slayings.

The president—who has been a supporter of capital punishment—was abiding by an International Court of Justice ruling that the death sentence violated the 1963 Vienna convention.

The main point of contention is that police did not inform the convicted man, Jose Ernesto Mede...

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