Watch Ohio for death debates

As noted here and here, the death penalty has taken some serious blows recently.  As I have been suggesting since election night, the new Democratic administration in Ohio makes it an especially interesting state to watch as all action unfolds.  Of course, ODPI covers this action better than anyone, and here are the latest headline:

• Cleveland Plain Dealer calls for Ohio death penalty study / lauds Strickland for execution delays
• Strickland interview on death penalty to be in Sunday Cincinnati Enquirer
• Different views on need for Ohio death penalty study

The last link references this article in today's Columbus Dispatch, which highlights that the traditional battle lines are being drawn in the Ohio death penalty debate:

Ohio's legal system hasn't sent anyone to Death Row who doesn't belong there, the head of the state prosecutors association says.  He is urging Gov. Ted Strickland not to support a capital-punishment study. "There are no mysteries here. … The death penalty is in fact being applied to exactly those persons and to those crimes for which it was intended," John E. Murphy wrote in a Jan. 15 letter to the Democratic governor.

Murphy said a study, long advocated by capital-punishment opponents and Attorney General Marc Dann during his campaign last year, would "send the wrong message to the citizens of this state that there is something wrong with our death penalty."  The only thing wrong, Murphy added, is that "it takes too long to get the penalty enforced."...

Ohio Public Defender David Bodiker strongly disagreed with Murphy's assurances about wrongly convicted inmates. "There are a dozen cases right now where there is considerable evidence that the guy is innocent," he said. "The problem is unringing the bell. If there's a conviction, the system is not likely to want to reverse the situation."  Bodiker said Murphy and many county prosecutors take the attitude, "You haven't caught us, so nothing's wrong."

Jim Tobin of the Catholic Conference of Ohio said a study has always been a goal of Ohioans to Stop Executions.  He said the group has had conversations with Strickland and Dann's staff about a study. "We would strongly encourage a nonbiased, professional study, an open dialogue and discussion," Tobin said.

UPDATE:  I also see from this article that Catholic groups are actively working against the death penalty in two other states: " In separate actions the Maryland Catholic Conference and Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City, S.D., have called for an end to the death penalty in their states."