Lakewood State Rep Speaking Out Against Ohio Death Penalty

State Rep. Nickie Antonio, who represents Lakewood, is vehemently against the death penalty.

Now, she’s speaking up about it in Columbus.

, along with state representative Ted Celeste, sent a letter to Gov. John Kasich this week requesting a moratorium on executions until the Supreme Court Joint Task Force finishes its review on capital punishment in the state. 

That’s after the pair also sponsored House Bill 160 – known as the Execute Justice Bill – aimed at eliminating capital punishment in Ohio.

The bill seeks to replace the death penalty with life without parole.

“We have to make sure that the person who’s been accused and convicted of committing a crime is truly the person the person who committed the crime,” said Antonio, who was one of several member of the Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee who toured Death Row at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown last month.

“We have five cases so far, through DNA evidence, that have exonerated people. That’s very chilling. We really need to be very sure.”

Antonio also told Lakewood Patch about the agonizing — and automatic — appeals process for victims’ families who often must endure years of the legal procedure.

“They may never be able to have closure,” she said. “But when someone is given the death penalty, the family of the victim goes through the process over and over again."

Antonio said that even the European pharmaceutical company that manufactures the drug used in Ohio executions has asked the state that its drug not to be used for capital punishment.

“Maybe that’s the universe’s intervention,” she said.

In addition, Antonio pointed out that studies show that execution is not actually a deterrent for violent crimes — which is the stated legal intent of the punishment.

“People have raised the moral question,” she said. “If we truly value life, how can we come to grips that the state of Ohio is using taxpayer dollars to pay to end the life of someone?”

Antonio’s letter to the governor asks to grant a temporary stay to inmates scheduled to be executed until the task force review is completed.

“Now more than ever, we believe there are flaws in Ohio’s death sentence that must be addressed,” Antonio and Celeste wrote in their letter to the Governor. 

Here’s the letter to Gov. Kasich in its entirety:

Dear Governor Kasich,

As you know, the Joint Task Force to study the death penalty law and related procedures administered in Ohio is forming and will soon hold its first meeting.  Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice, Maureen O’Conner has called on an extensive group of judges, prosecuting attorneys, criminal defense counsel, legislative leaders and academics to consider changes to the criteria, laws and or procedures regarding the imposition of the death penalty in Ohio.

People realize the need to review and discuss the disparities of those facing a death sentence along with the mental health issues of those involved.  Ohio also faces a new challenge of how Ohio will carry out executions due to lack of the supply of the anesthetic pentobarbital to execute inmates.  We visited the Ohio State Penitentiary this past week with both Chairman Slaby and Ranking Minority Member Winburn of the House Criminal Justice Committee. We were also joined by Senator Edna Brown.

Now more than ever, we believe there are flaws in Ohio’s death sentence that must be addressed.  Ohio has exonerated five inmates that together have spent over 81 years on death row.  We applaud your leadership in commuting two death row inmates to life without parole.  We respectfully request a moratorium on the execution of any death row inmates while the Joint Task Force is deliberating and contemplating the policies of the death penalty. 

Our Criminal Justice System must uphold justice and respect for all Ohioans.  Your executive power will ensure that those who are scheduled to be executed are treated equally to those who are on death row after the Joint Task Force implements possible changes to the death penalty.  We are calling on you to issue an executive order to commute those scheduled to die a temporary stay while the Joint Task Force carries out their duties and recommends policies and implements new procedures within its own branch of government.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your response. 

-Nickie Antonio (D-13) and Ted Celeste (D-24)