Protesters gathered Tuesday evening at the Athens County Courthouse. (Photo: Sarah M. Penix/The Post)
Ohio Plans to Restart Executions with Drugs Known to Torture
After a three-and-a-half year moratorium, Ohio is poised to start executions again with the killing of Ronald Phillips by lethal injection on July 26. It will also mark the beginning of 27 planned executions that will make Ohio one of the most active capital punishment states north of Texas. But Gov. John Kasich can stop this execution spree before it starts.
And here's a quick reminder of why that's the only moral course for the governor.
After a three-and-a-half year moratorium, Ohio is poised to start executions again with the killing of Ronald Phillips by lethal injection on July 26. It will also mark the beginning of 27 planned executions that will make Ohio one of the most active capital punishment states north of Texas. But Gov. John Kasich can stop this execution spree before it starts.
And here's a quick reminder of why that's the only moral course for the governor.
Executions have been halted for more than three years because of the horribly botched execution of Dennis McGuire in January 2014, when witnesses described him appearing in pain, gasping for air, and groaning during the prolonged lethal injection process. Many experts said that situation was the result of using an untested and unproven drug, midazolam. After McGuire's execution, the state passed a secrecy law so the public cannot know the manufacturer of the drug.
Now Ohio is expected to use the very same drug in the execution of Ronald Phillips, a decision that has led to protests from pharmacologists. In a friend of the court brief, the doctors wrote that midazolam is "unsuitable" for execution "because it is incapable of inducing unconsciousness and cannot prevent the infliction of severe pain."
If Ohio resumes executions, the likelihood of another botched execution or the killing of an innocent person is high.
Even before McGuire's execution, Ohio's record on lethal injection has been appalling. In between May 2006 and September 2009, the state botched the executions of James Clark, Jr., Christopher Newton, and Romell Broom. After each case, the state promised to devise a new process, only to fail again and again. This experience only illustrates that there is no humane way to carry out the death penalty. At the very least, Gov. Kasich should halt executions until the courts have fully reviewed the new drug protocol.
Beyond lethal injections, there are plenty of other reasons to oppose Ohio's return to executions. Nine people have been exonerated from the state's death row, and there remains a significant question of how many more innocent people may be facing execution. In 2007, the American Bar Association reviewed Ohio's death penalty and found that the state failed to meet 93 percent of the basic measures of fairness. Judicial leaders were so concerned about these problems that in 2010, the Ohio Supreme Court's Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor created a task force to address these issues. Eventually, the group issued 56 recommendations to improve fairness and help prevent wrongful convictions, but the state legislature has failed to pass nearly all of the reforms.
During his first term in office, Gov. Kasich used his clemency powers to commute five death sentences to life in prison, citing uncertainty about a defendant's claim of innocence or mental condition. His predecessor, Gov. Ted Strickland, also commuted five death sentences to life in prison because of similar concerns.
Many people are speaking out against Ohio's death penalty. Family members of murder victims, religious leaders, and corrections officials have all talked about the damage capital punishment does to our society. Several conservative former political leaders, who oversaw executions, have also come out against the death penalty, including Attorney General Jim Petro, Gov. Bob Taft, and State Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeiffer.
If Ohio decides to start executions at this pace, it will be in stark contrast to the rest of the country at a time when death sentences and executions are both at historic lows. Nineteen states have abolished the death penalty altogether while another four states have moratoriums issued by their governors.
If Ohio resumes executions, the likelihood of another botched execution or the killing of an innocent person is high. Given all the problems the state has had, Gov. Kasich should stop the execution of Ronald Phillips and take the lead to impose a permanent moratorium on executions in Ohio.
FINAL DAY! This is urgent.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just hours left in our Spring Campaign, we're still falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
After a three-and-a-half year moratorium, Ohio is poised to start executions again with the killing of Ronald Phillips by lethal injection on July 26. It will also mark the beginning of 27 planned executions that will make Ohio one of the most active capital punishment states north of Texas. But Gov. John Kasich can stop this execution spree before it starts.
And here's a quick reminder of why that's the only moral course for the governor.
Executions have been halted for more than three years because of the horribly botched execution of Dennis McGuire in January 2014, when witnesses described him appearing in pain, gasping for air, and groaning during the prolonged lethal injection process. Many experts said that situation was the result of using an untested and unproven drug, midazolam. After McGuire's execution, the state passed a secrecy law so the public cannot know the manufacturer of the drug.
Now Ohio is expected to use the very same drug in the execution of Ronald Phillips, a decision that has led to protests from pharmacologists. In a friend of the court brief, the doctors wrote that midazolam is "unsuitable" for execution "because it is incapable of inducing unconsciousness and cannot prevent the infliction of severe pain."
If Ohio resumes executions, the likelihood of another botched execution or the killing of an innocent person is high.
Even before McGuire's execution, Ohio's record on lethal injection has been appalling. In between May 2006 and September 2009, the state botched the executions of James Clark, Jr., Christopher Newton, and Romell Broom. After each case, the state promised to devise a new process, only to fail again and again. This experience only illustrates that there is no humane way to carry out the death penalty. At the very least, Gov. Kasich should halt executions until the courts have fully reviewed the new drug protocol.
Beyond lethal injections, there are plenty of other reasons to oppose Ohio's return to executions. Nine people have been exonerated from the state's death row, and there remains a significant question of how many more innocent people may be facing execution. In 2007, the American Bar Association reviewed Ohio's death penalty and found that the state failed to meet 93 percent of the basic measures of fairness. Judicial leaders were so concerned about these problems that in 2010, the Ohio Supreme Court's Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor created a task force to address these issues. Eventually, the group issued 56 recommendations to improve fairness and help prevent wrongful convictions, but the state legislature has failed to pass nearly all of the reforms.
During his first term in office, Gov. Kasich used his clemency powers to commute five death sentences to life in prison, citing uncertainty about a defendant's claim of innocence or mental condition. His predecessor, Gov. Ted Strickland, also commuted five death sentences to life in prison because of similar concerns.
Many people are speaking out against Ohio's death penalty. Family members of murder victims, religious leaders, and corrections officials have all talked about the damage capital punishment does to our society. Several conservative former political leaders, who oversaw executions, have also come out against the death penalty, including Attorney General Jim Petro, Gov. Bob Taft, and State Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeiffer.
If Ohio decides to start executions at this pace, it will be in stark contrast to the rest of the country at a time when death sentences and executions are both at historic lows. Nineteen states have abolished the death penalty altogether while another four states have moratoriums issued by their governors.
If Ohio resumes executions, the likelihood of another botched execution or the killing of an innocent person is high. Given all the problems the state has had, Gov. Kasich should stop the execution of Ronald Phillips and take the lead to impose a permanent moratorium on executions in Ohio.
After a three-and-a-half year moratorium, Ohio is poised to start executions again with the killing of Ronald Phillips by lethal injection on July 26. It will also mark the beginning of 27 planned executions that will make Ohio one of the most active capital punishment states north of Texas. But Gov. John Kasich can stop this execution spree before it starts.
And here's a quick reminder of why that's the only moral course for the governor.
Executions have been halted for more than three years because of the horribly botched execution of Dennis McGuire in January 2014, when witnesses described him appearing in pain, gasping for air, and groaning during the prolonged lethal injection process. Many experts said that situation was the result of using an untested and unproven drug, midazolam. After McGuire's execution, the state passed a secrecy law so the public cannot know the manufacturer of the drug.
Now Ohio is expected to use the very same drug in the execution of Ronald Phillips, a decision that has led to protests from pharmacologists. In a friend of the court brief, the doctors wrote that midazolam is "unsuitable" for execution "because it is incapable of inducing unconsciousness and cannot prevent the infliction of severe pain."
If Ohio resumes executions, the likelihood of another botched execution or the killing of an innocent person is high.
Even before McGuire's execution, Ohio's record on lethal injection has been appalling. In between May 2006 and September 2009, the state botched the executions of James Clark, Jr., Christopher Newton, and Romell Broom. After each case, the state promised to devise a new process, only to fail again and again. This experience only illustrates that there is no humane way to carry out the death penalty. At the very least, Gov. Kasich should halt executions until the courts have fully reviewed the new drug protocol.
Beyond lethal injections, there are plenty of other reasons to oppose Ohio's return to executions. Nine people have been exonerated from the state's death row, and there remains a significant question of how many more innocent people may be facing execution. In 2007, the American Bar Association reviewed Ohio's death penalty and found that the state failed to meet 93 percent of the basic measures of fairness. Judicial leaders were so concerned about these problems that in 2010, the Ohio Supreme Court's Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor created a task force to address these issues. Eventually, the group issued 56 recommendations to improve fairness and help prevent wrongful convictions, but the state legislature has failed to pass nearly all of the reforms.
During his first term in office, Gov. Kasich used his clemency powers to commute five death sentences to life in prison, citing uncertainty about a defendant's claim of innocence or mental condition. His predecessor, Gov. Ted Strickland, also commuted five death sentences to life in prison because of similar concerns.
Many people are speaking out against Ohio's death penalty. Family members of murder victims, religious leaders, and corrections officials have all talked about the damage capital punishment does to our society. Several conservative former political leaders, who oversaw executions, have also come out against the death penalty, including Attorney General Jim Petro, Gov. Bob Taft, and State Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeiffer.
If Ohio decides to start executions at this pace, it will be in stark contrast to the rest of the country at a time when death sentences and executions are both at historic lows. Nineteen states have abolished the death penalty altogether while another four states have moratoriums issued by their governors.
If Ohio resumes executions, the likelihood of another botched execution or the killing of an innocent person is high. Given all the problems the state has had, Gov. Kasich should stop the execution of Ronald Phillips and take the lead to impose a permanent moratorium on executions in Ohio.