NEWSFLASH: Ohio Governor puts all state executions on hold until at least Dec. 2009

Responding to both the recent failed execution efforts in the Broom case and the stay entered by a federal court today in the Reynolds case, Ohio's Governor has put a halt to all executions in the state until at least 2010. These breaking details are reported in this local press report, which starts this way:

Gov. Ted Strickland issued reprieves Monday for two death row inmates scheduled for execution in coming weeks. Te move came after a federal court issued a stay in the case of Lawrence Reynolds, citing ongoing legal arguments following the failed execution of Romell Broom last month.

Under Strickland's reprieves, Reynolds would face a March 9 execution, while Darryl Durr's execution would be set for April 20. Reynolds was to face the death penalty on Thursday for murdering a Cuyahoga Falls woman in 1994. Durr, convicted in a Cuyahoga County rape and murder of a teen-ager in 1988, was scheduled for lethal injection in November.

"Since Sept. 15, the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections has been working to establish a back-up or alternative lethal injection protocol in the unlikely event similar circumstances arise when implementing the death penalty in the future," Strickland said in a released statement. "While the department has made progress, additional time is needed to fully conduct a thorough and comprehensive review of an alternative or back-up lethal injection protocol that is in accordance with Ohio law.  Therefore, I have decided to issue two reprieves ... I have asked Director Collins to continue working to ensure the death penalty is administered fairly and effectively here in Ohio."

Strickland also left open the possibility of issuing additional reprieves, though the two issued Monday did not cover Kenneth Biros, scheduled for execution in December for a brutal 1991 murder in Trumbull County. "While I believe that the department will be able to complete its research and evaluation, select an appropriate back-up or alternative lethal injection procedure, and conduct any training or other preparation necessitated by that selection by the time of Mr. Biros; scheduled execution in December, I will issue any additional reprieves I deem necessary to the appropriate administration of executions under Ohio law," Strickland wrote.

The full statement by Governor Strickland can be found at this link.

Some recent related posts on Ohio lethal injection issues:

• Ohio struggling, legally and practically, with effort to execute offender
• Details on the botched Ohio execution attempt, issue spotting, and seeking predictions
• Will (and when and how will) SCOTUS have to weigh in on Ohio's desire to try execution again?
• Federal hearing about constitutionality of Ohio's re-execution attempt pushed back months
• Ohio Supreme Court asked to stay next scheduled execution in wake of botched attempt
• Ohio Supreme Court refuses to block next Ohio execution
• Split Sixth Circuit panel stays next scheduled Ohio execution

UPDATE:  I've tweked this post title to reflect the fact that Gov Strickland's statement leave open the possibility that Ohio will be able to get its execution protocol straightened out by Dec. 2009.  Realistically, though, especially given that the federal court hearing on the failed execution attempt is not scheduled until Nov. 30, I will be quite surprised if Ohio executes anyone before winter turns to spring in 2010.