ACLU Asks Governor to Suspend Executions Through 2015

In Light of Botched Lethal Injections and Recommendations by Taskforce, State Should Pause Executions

April 30, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

CLEVELAND, OH – Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio called on Governor John Kasich to grant clemency to Arthur Tyler and suspend the next nine executions through 2015. The request comes the day after the Ohio Parole Board unanimously recommended clemency for Mr. Tyler and the state of Oklahoma administered a botched execution eerily reminiscent of past Ohiobotched executions.

“Now is the time for Ohio to pause executions while state leaders look to reform the system,” said ACLU of Ohio Director of Communications & Public Policy Mike Brickner. “The botched execution in Oklahoma is another sad reminder of how broken our death penalty system is. After four botched executions in less than a decade, Ohio is at great risk of more problems with lethal injections. At this critical time where reform of the death penalty is possible, neither the public nor elected officials need the specter of botched executions distracting from this important work.”

“Pausing executions is not about whether Governor Kasich agrees with the death penalty,” added Brickner. “Even supporters of the death penalty should agree that it must be fair, humane, and comply with our Constitution. The recent problems with lethal injections and those pointed out by the Ohio Supreme Court Taskforce suggest we have much work to do to before we should resume executions.”