Opinion ID: 1654600
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: whether the death sentence is prohibited by international law.

Text: ¶ 29. McGilberry argues that his execution is prohibited by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, an international treaty which has been ratified by the United States Senate. This issue was not raised at trial or on direct appeal is now procedurally bared from consideration. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). Without waiving the procedural bar, the issue is without merit because, during the ratification process, the United States Senate specifically reserved the right to impose capital punishment on persons below 18 years of age. International Covenant on Civ. and Pol. Rts., S. Exec. Rept., No. 102-23, 102nd Congress, 2d Sess., 1 (1992). Further, the United States Supreme Court has specifically upheld the applicability of the death penalty to persons 16 years of age. Thompson v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 815, 108 S.Ct. 2687, 101 L.Ed.2d 702 (1988). This issue is without merit.