Might Ohio keep pace with Texas in the number of executions in 2010?

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this local news report, which is headlined "Ohio Supreme Court sets 3 new execution dates."  Here are the basics:

The Ohio Supreme Court has set three execution dates, including one for a death row inmate who says he's innocent. The rulings put the state on pace to execute a record number of inmates, with executions now scheduled monthly through September.

This DPIC page with upcoming executions shows that Ohio right now has nearly as many executions planned for 2010 as Texas.  If past is prologue, Texas will likely schedule more execution in the near future, while Ohio's Supreme Court seems content to only schedule one per month.  Thus, I still expect Texas to win the execution contest for 2010 (as they have in every other year in recent memory).

Though Ohio likely won't be able to keep up with Texas, the state's steady and heavy pace of executions for 2010 is still quite significant for many reasons.  Ohio is currently the only state using a one-drug lethal injection protocol; monthly successful executions in the state might lead other states to consider adopting Ohio's new protocol.  In addition, Ohio has all of its state-wide office holders up for election in 2010; it will be very interesting to see if Ohio's new status as the Texas of the north could become a campaign issue.

Some recent related posts:

• Ohio succeeds again with one-drug execution protocol
• "Ohio inmate to get 1-drug, slower, execution"
• Reports on Ohio's success with one-drug lethal injection protocol
• A few early questions following Ohio's successful one-drug lethal injection execution
• "A new Texas? Ohio's death penalty examined"
• Ohio — aka the Texas of the north — setting busy execution schedule
• Ohio — aka the northern Texas — executes again