The execution of Lawrence Reynolds has been rescheduled to next week. The new execution date has been set for Tuesday, March 16th.
Reynolds was found unconscious in his cell Sunday night.
Ohioans to Stop Executions issued the following statement to Ohio media outlets:
Suspended execution highlights fundamental flaws of death penalty
Ohioans to Stop Executions has always held the death penalty is unnecessary because Ohio’s execution system is irreparably flawed. There are viable alternatives to Ohio’s capital punishment system which can be enacted at a fraction of the cost.
Lawrence Reynolds’ situation points to the messiness and flawed nature of Ohio’s death penalty system. The events of today demonstrate just how difficult it is for humans to manage a system of state-administered death.
Ohioans to Stop Executions hopes that an end result of this situation will be a complete, non-biased review of Ohio’s death penalty laws and systems.
One step closer to exoneration
Ohio may have a sixth death row exoneration in the near future. On March 3rd a federal judge ruled that the county prosecutor may not re-try Joe D'Ambrosio.
D'Ambrosio spent nearly 20 years on Ohio's death row for the murder of Tony Klann. The judge said that prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense and the court which would have changed the outcome of the conviction.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has the story. Click here for more. Photo of D'Ambrosio by Lynn Ischay / Cleveland Plain Dealer.
American Law Institute calls death penalty a failure
The American Law Institute, the body responsibe for creating the legal framework for the modern death penalty, said its work on capital punishment has failed. The institute will cited problems with the death penalty as part of the project's failure.
Executions scheduled: Contact the governor
Lawrence Reynolds is scheduled to be executed on March 9, 2010.
Please contact Governor Strickland and urge him to grant clemency to Mr. Reynolds by phone at 614-644-4357. You can also submit your concerns electronically by following this link.
The Ohio Parole Board has recommended that Governor Strickland deny clemency to Lawrence Reynolds. Please contact the governor today and ask him to show mercy and commute the death sentence.
The Ohio Supreme Court has scheduled executions on the following dates:
March 9, 2010; Lawrence Reynolds
April 20, 2010; Darryl Durr
May 13, 2010; Michael Beuke
June 10, 2010; Richard Nields
July 13, 2010; William Garner
August 10, 2010; Roderick Davie
September 15, 2010; Kevin Keith
October 6, 2010; Michael Benge
Ohio is on track to execute a record number of inmates in 2010. No state in the US outside the South has more executions scheduled than Ohio for 2010.
Death sentences down, again
The Death Penalty Information Center released its "The Death Penalty in 2009: Year End Report” on December 18, noting that the country is expected to finish 2009 with the fewest death sentences since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Eleven states considered abolishing the death penalty this year, a significant increase in legislative activity from previous years, as the high costs and lack of measurable benefits associated with this punishment troubled lawmakers.
To read the report, follow this link: DPIC 2009 year end report
Ohio had only one new death sentence in 2009 and executed 5 inmates. Ohio was third among states with the highest number of executions in 2009.
To read the report, follow this link: DPIC 2009 year end report
Ohio had only one new death sentence in 2009 and executed 5 inmates. Ohio was third among states with the highest number of executions in 2009.
New report on costs by Death Penalty Information Center
The Death Penalty Information Center has released its latest report, "Smart on Crime: Reconsidering the Death Penalty in a Time of Economic Crisis." The report combines an analysis of the costs of the death penalty with a newly released national poll of police chiefs who put capital punishment at the bottom of their law enforcement priorities.
To read the report's executive summary, click here.
To read the full report, click here.
To read DPIC's press release, click here.
Shout from the rooftops
In 2006, United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia asserted that there has never been a single case in which an individual was wrongfully convicted and executed. If there was, he said, "the innocent's name would be shouted from the rooftops."
Thanks to the September 7 New Yorker article "Trial by Fire," we can shout with authority the name of Cameron Todd Willingham.
To learn more about the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty's new campaign, click here.
Brunner calls for moratorium
Jennifer Brunner, Ohio's current Secretary of State and candidate for the US Senate seat to be vacated when Senator George Voinovich retires, has called for a moratorium on executions.
Brunner cited the botched execution attempt of Romell Broom and indicates many other reasons for her position on a moratorium.
The Huffington Post has the story.
Brunner cited the botched execution attempt of Romell Broom and indicates many other reasons for her position on a moratorium.
The Huffington Post has the story.
A conservative argument against the death penalty
Richard Viguerie, considered to be one of the founders of modern conservativism, supports an end to the death penalty. His article, published in last week's Sojourners magazine, covers all of the reasons why capital punishment conflicts with his conservative philosophy and religious beliefs.
When Governments Kill
A conservative argues for abolishing the death penalty.
by Richard A. Viguerie
On most public policy matters, Jim Wallis and I disagree. Both of us, however, do believe that the death penalty should be abolished—although we may not agree on how that should be done.
I’m a Catholic. Because of my Christian faith, and because I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I oppose the death penalty. I’m a conservative as well, and because my political philosophy recognizes that government is too often used by humans for the wrong ends, I find it quite logical to oppose capital punishment.
I have been criticized by some conservatives for my opposition to the death penalty. On the other hand, some conservatives have told me they question capital punishment or even oppose it, but believe that the conservative “position” is to support it. Fortunately for me, even if someone were to question my conservative bona fides (I’ve never been called not conservative enough, trust me), I wouldn’t care.
The fact is, I don’t understand why more conservatives don’t oppose the death penalty. It is, after all, a system set up under laws established by politicians (too many of whom lack principles); enforced by prosecutors (many of whom want to become politicians—perhaps a character flaw?—and who prefer wins over justice); and adjudicated by judges (too many of whom administer personal preference rather than the law).
To read the complete article follow this link
When Governments Kill
A conservative argues for abolishing the death penalty.
by Richard A. Viguerie
On most public policy matters, Jim Wallis and I disagree. Both of us, however, do believe that the death penalty should be abolished—although we may not agree on how that should be done.
I’m a Catholic. Because of my Christian faith, and because I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I oppose the death penalty. I’m a conservative as well, and because my political philosophy recognizes that government is too often used by humans for the wrong ends, I find it quite logical to oppose capital punishment.
I have been criticized by some conservatives for my opposition to the death penalty. On the other hand, some conservatives have told me they question capital punishment or even oppose it, but believe that the conservative “position” is to support it. Fortunately for me, even if someone were to question my conservative bona fides (I’ve never been called not conservative enough, trust me), I wouldn’t care.
The fact is, I don’t understand why more conservatives don’t oppose the death penalty. It is, after all, a system set up under laws established by politicians (too many of whom lack principles); enforced by prosecutors (many of whom want to become politicians—perhaps a character flaw?—and who prefer wins over justice); and adjudicated by judges (too many of whom administer personal preference rather than the law).
To read the complete article follow this link
Opinion Editorial by Mark Godsey in Columbus Dispatch
Death Row case warrants another look to ensure that justice is done
Saturday, July 11, 2009
If Ohio does not take action in the case of Death Row inmate Kevin Keith, it risks doing the intolerable: putting a person to death for a crime he did not commit. Compelling new evidence in Keith's case raises grave doubts about the validity of his conviction.
There is overwhelming evidence suggesting that Keith was convicted and sentenced to death on the basis of faulty eyewitness identification -- one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in this country. Indeed, eyewitness misidentification has played a role in more than 75 percent of the DNA exonerations nationwide.
However, DNA is unavailable in the vast majority of cases, and it is therefore essential that protections are put in place to ensure that eyewitness identifications are reliable. Unfortunately, in Keith's case, that did not happen.
Read entire editorial
Saturday, July 11, 2009
If Ohio does not take action in the case of Death Row inmate Kevin Keith, it risks doing the intolerable: putting a person to death for a crime he did not commit. Compelling new evidence in Keith's case raises grave doubts about the validity of his conviction.
There is overwhelming evidence suggesting that Keith was convicted and sentenced to death on the basis of faulty eyewitness identification -- one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in this country. Indeed, eyewitness misidentification has played a role in more than 75 percent of the DNA exonerations nationwide.
However, DNA is unavailable in the vast majority of cases, and it is therefore essential that protections are put in place to ensure that eyewitness identifications are reliable. Unfortunately, in Keith's case, that did not happen.
Read entire editorial
2010-2011 Internships
The internship program offers high school, undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to gain real world experience working in politics, human rights and grassroots organizing. Build your resume while working to end capital punishment in Ohio!
This program is flexible, giving interns the ability to choose which areas of OTSE’s work they are most interested in, while providing a solid background in all aspects of statewide efforts to end the death penalty. Focus areas include:
• Researching and drafting the 2010 annual report, a comprehensive view of Ohio’s system.
• Design and distribution of OTSE’s quarterly report to members and coalition partners.
• Providing outreach and educations to civic, religious and community groups.
• Tabling at community events and summer festivals.
• Lobbying representatives on capital punishment.
• Supporting OTSE’s statewide campaigns including those for moratorium resolutions and key constituent groups.
Positions are available in Northeast and Southwest Ohio (Cleveland and Cincinnati areas). Scheduling is flexible and part time. This is an unpaid internship for 10-15 hours a week.
Application instructions:
To submit an application for the program, send a cover letter and resume to Renee Berlon by e-mail to otse.org@gmail.com
For more information, call Kevin Werner at 614-560-0654
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The program runs through 2011.
This program is flexible, giving interns the ability to choose which areas of OTSE’s work they are most interested in, while providing a solid background in all aspects of statewide efforts to end the death penalty. Focus areas include:
• Researching and drafting the 2010 annual report, a comprehensive view of Ohio’s system.
• Design and distribution of OTSE’s quarterly report to members and coalition partners.
• Providing outreach and educations to civic, religious and community groups.
• Tabling at community events and summer festivals.
• Lobbying representatives on capital punishment.
• Supporting OTSE’s statewide campaigns including those for moratorium resolutions and key constituent groups.
Positions are available in Northeast and Southwest Ohio (Cleveland and Cincinnati areas). Scheduling is flexible and part time. This is an unpaid internship for 10-15 hours a week.
Application instructions:
To submit an application for the program, send a cover letter and resume to Renee Berlon by e-mail to otse.org@gmail.com
For more information, call Kevin Werner at 614-560-0654
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The program runs through 2011.
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Kathy Grant holds a picture of her cousin.
Photo by Joseph Harris
