Opinion ID: 2633602
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Individual Rights under the Extradition Treaty

Text: ¶ 29 French argues he may claim individual protection under the extradition treaty between the United States and Mexico because the treaty is self-executing. A self-executing treaty is one that is binding on the courts absent implementing legislation and allows individuals to claim protection under the treaty. French asserts that treaties generally are self-executing unless there is specific language to the contrary. Asakura v. City of Seattle, 265 U.S. 332, 341, 44 S.Ct. 515, 68 L.Ed. 1041 (1924). French claims that under the extradition treaty, he may be extradited only for willful crimes. Because Washington does not define a mental element for the crime of rape, French argues it cannot be a willful crime. Thus, according to French, he was illegally extradited under the terms of the treaty. ¶ 30 Whether a defendant may be prosecuted for a certain crime under an extradition treaty is a matter for the extraditing country to determine. United States v. Campbell, 300 F.3d 202, 209 (2d Cir.2002) (citing Johnson v. Browne, 205 U.S. 309, 316, 27 S.Ct. 539, 51 L.Ed. 816 (1907)). French argues that the crimes for which he was extradited are not extraditable offenses under the treaty. However, Mexico granted French's extradition specifically for those crimes. We decline to reach the merits of French's claim because whether or not child rape and child molestation are extraditable offenses under the treaty was a question for Mexico to decide. [8]