Justices Rebuff Bush and World Court

Bush's intentions -- to ensure reciprocal observance of the Vienna Convention with foreign governments, protect international relations and show a commitment to international law -- are "plainly compelling," Roberts wrote. "Such considerations, however, do not allow us to set aside first principles."

Frederick L. Kirgis, a professor of international law at Washington and Lee University, said he was surprised that the court was not more deferential to the president.

"It is a matter of diplomacy, after all, and the president is the chief diplomat, and he has acted," Kirgis said, adding that the reaction of other governments, especially Mexico's, is "certain to be negative."

The Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry said it regretted the court's decision and its lawyers are reviewing the implications for "other Mexican nationals facing death sentences, in order to determine immediate legal actions to preserve their rights."

The case involved Medell¿n and 50 other Mexican nationals who have been convicted in U.S. courts.

Medell¿n, 33, has lived in the United States since he was 3; he speaks and writes English but is still a Mexican national. He was part of a gang that attacked Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pe¿a, 16, as they walked home from a friend's house. They were raped and murdered, one strangled with her shoestring.

Medell¿n signed a waiver of his Miranda right to remain silent and confessed within hours of his arrest. But he was not told of his right to talk to the consulate of his country. Medell¿n did not raise that right during his trial but did in one of his death penalty appeals.

The administration first argued against Mexico, and then in 2005 Bush issued his memorandum to the attorney general saying that the United States will "discharge its international obligations . . . by having state courts give effect to the decision" of the World Court.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush was disappointed with the decision and is reviewing it to see how it might influence international relations.