Ohio Group to Stop Executions
Ohioans to Stop Executions is a group of organizations who are working to end or at least reduce the use of capital punishment in Ohio. Recently, they have been calling on Governor John Kasich to prevent further executions.
According to WDTN News and AP, OTSE submitted its request to Gov. Kasich at a news conference at the same time Ronald Phillips, a convicted child killer, was scheduled to be executed. Magistrate Judge Michael Merz issued a directive to halt all executions until a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the new three drug lethal injection method.
The drug at the center of the lawsuit is midazolam. Midazolam is a sedative used in a wide range of medical facilities ranging from hospitals, veterinary, and dentist offices. Attorneys who have challenged Ohio’s new method say that the drug is unlikely to relieve the pain from the other drugs. This is in direct violation of the 8th Amendment:
“Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
Another point of contention in the lawsuit is both the supplier of the drug and the amount of supply. A 2015 law shields the information of where the State gets the supply from. It is difficult for defense attorneys to receive this information also in part because of federal court rulings that do not allow them from receiving that info through the traditional evidence recovery methods. Chapter 3 section E. subsection (cc) of The Ohio Public Records Act states:
“Information and records concerning drugs used for lethal injections that are made confidential, privileged, and not subject to disclosure under R.C. 2949.221(B) and (C).”
Most drug makers have disallowed their drugs to be used for executions, but with the widespread availability of midazolam, tracking down the origins of the drug are increasingly difficult.
With so many questions and uncertainties surrounding Ohio’s new three drug method, it is no surprise there are groups questioning not only the morality, but the legality of capital punishment. In this situation, a common phrase, from those in an authority position, comes to mind; If you have got nothing to hide, you have got nothing to fear. Why has the government decided to shield such seemingly innocuous information from the public?
(Article by Jonathan Anderson)