washington republican presidential candidate ted cruz often tell supporters supreme court win federal government 2008 defend texas right execute mexican man murder evidence conservative anti-establishment credentials one part story go untold medellin v. texas case decide cruz state solicitor general set stage years diplomatic tension unite state southern neighbor mexico publicly protest u.s. executions citizens years interview diplomats review official mexican government communiqués reveal turmoil cause medellin case run deep come nearly every meet unite state mexico lead official protest unite nations security council 2014. give level frustration cruz role court battle raise question u.s.-mexico relations beat billionaire donald trump republican nomination win u.s. presidential election november think relations would complicate president cruz say sergio alcocer mexico deputy foreign minister responsible north america 2012-2015. alcocer praise cruz intelligent pragmatic say senator inflexible issue like immigration death penalty cruz take certain position clearly define much conservative much dogmatic trump alcocer say cruz campaign official respond request comment mexico city foreign ministry spokesman say mexico preference among u.s. presidential candidates would comment election medellin case cruz defend death sentence texas court impose mexican citizen jose ernesto medellin convict 1994 role gang rape strangle two teenage girls houston park 2004 international court justice unite nations rule texas state violate vienna convention fail notify medellin 50 mexicans death row right contact mexican consulate arrest president george w. bush order texas state review sentence cruz argue unite state submit international court decisions white house could implement international agreement require state change court procedures without action congress supreme court agree 6-3 decision win case raise cruz profile conservative circle recently say would appoint justices would narrowly interpret constitution medellin case crucial talk point election follow death supreme court conservative icon antonin scalia unusual thing time state texas stand president unite state front supreme court particularly president texan republican former governor state cruz tell cheer supporters houston rally february one many time bring case supreme court rule remove potential legal barrier three executions mexican nationals texas part international court case medellin even u.s. ally european union switzerland criticize saw ongoing treaty violations mexico press u.s. officials congress follow international court directive require state review death sentence people deny consular access issue come one top issue mexico raise almost every bilateral meet say harold hongju koh legal adviser u.s. state department 2009-2013. alcocer former mexican deputy foreign minister confirm issue consular access raise negotiations cross-border issue like extradition criminals resolve something mexico need keep insist say interview mexican officials say bush obama administrations open work issue u.s. state department officials support consular-access legislation introduce senate enough spur congress resolve issue texas execute medellin august 2008 five months supreme court decision draw swift criticism unite nations court three years late texas prepare execute another mexican national receive consular access mexico then-ambassador unite state arturo sarukhan write u.s. secretary state hillary clinton say action would seriously jeopardize cooperation range issue serve neither unite state mexico-u.s. relationship u.s. live treaty obligations say letter review reuters 2013 mexico warn washington another letter executions mexican nationals deny consular access would mean whole forward-looking bilateral engagement could question year late government write president unite nations security council express indignation executions mexican citizens violation international court directive sarukhan former mexican ambassador say mexico options put pressure unite state without harm cooperation areas march 31st mark 12 years since decision render unite state yet comply international obligations government say statement respond reuters question medellin case cruz involvement critics medellin rule cruz boast say texas could simply review sentence international court ask texas could provide remedy 20 time time take litigate case texas court supreme court say sandra babcock law professor cornell university one medellin attorneys long-term damage reputational damage unite state still ongoing cruz supporters dismiss criticism job solicitor general defend texas worry international implications say texas governor greg abbott former attorney general cruz boss time medellin case introduce presidential hopeful february rally houston fight unite nations world court unite state america defend texas sovereignty abbott say cheer ted cruz win supreme court hurt u.s.-mexico relations