Attorney Sandra Babcock, the lead lawyer in a high-profile legal struggle over the fate of more than 50 Mexican nationals awaiting execution in U.S. prisons, will speak at Boalt Hall on Wednesday, October 12.
Babcock, an attorney in private practice in Minneapolis, directs the Mexican Capital Legal Assistance Program, a project funded by the Mexican government to assist its nationals in capital cases at trial and on appeal. In that role, she was Mexico’s counsel in an International Court of Justice case that challenged U.S. procedures in prosecuting Mexican nationals in capital cases. Specifically, Mexico v. United States (also known as Case Concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals) alleged that the United States had ignored its international treaty obligations and violated the rights of 52 condemned Mexican nationals by denying them consular notification and consultation after arrest and while they were awaiting trial. In 2004, the International Court of Justice found for Mexico in the case and directed the United States to review the convictions and sentences of these 52 individuals.
The event, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. at 115 Law Building, is open to the public. It is sponsored by Boalt’s Death Penalty Clinic and International Human Rights Law Clinic.