Governor Pauses Executions In Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — Governor Mike DeWine has ordered all death penalty executions in Ohio paused until a new method for execution can be devised by the state.

Ohio currently uses a three-drug lethal injection protocol. However, many drug manufacturers are banning the use of their products in executions. Some of the drugs used in Ohio system have also been found to create pain in prisoners.

During an Associated Press forum this week, DeWine was asked about the state's pending executions. "As long as the status quo remains, where we don't have a protocol that has been found to be OK, we certainly cannot have any executions in Ohio," DeWine said, according to Cleveland.com.

The move to delay further state executions was met with praise from some Democratic officials, including State Senator Nickie Antonio, a Democrat from Lakewood, who has been lobbying against the death penalty for years.

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“I applaud Governor DeWine’s decision to halt all executions in Ohio, certainly this gives policymakers an opportunity to consider all options to address those convicted of capital crimes," Antonio said. "My hope is that one option for consideration would be to abolish the use of the death penalty and move to a conviction of life without parole in capital cases."

In each of the past four General Assemblies, Antonio has introduced legislation that would end Ohio's use of the death penalty, replacing it instead with life without the possibility of parole. She said she intends to re-introduce similar legislation during the next General Assembly.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)