Despite the fact that the Constitution defin­ing Puerto Rico’s sta­tus as a self-gov­ern­ing com­mon­wealth asso­ci­at­ed with the United States uncon­di­tion­al­ly bans cap­i­tal pun­ish­ment, the U.S. is seek­ing the fed­er­al death penal­ty in the tri­al of two Puerto Rican men. The tri­al has spurred grass-root protests against the death penal­ty. Gov. Sila M. Calderon, the Commonwealth’s top elect­ed offi­cial, said the case demon­strates the need to fur­ther reform the U.S. — Puerto Rican rela­tion­ship, espe­cial­ly in regard to fed­er­al laws ​“that infringe on our cul­ture, our own laws and our cus­toms.” Arturo Luis Davila Toro, pres­i­dent of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, reit­er­at­ed her con­cerns, stat­ing, ​“We don’t believe in cap­i­tal pun­ish­ment, and they are try­ing to impose it on us.” Jury selec­tion for the tri­al took place last week at the U.S. District Court in San Juan. 

(Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2003). See Federal Death Penalty.

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