USA - Ohio. 19 named to review death penalty in Ohio.

19 named to review death penalty in Ohio. The 19 members of a state panel that will review whether Ohio’s death penalty is being administered fairly include six judges, three legislators, two prosecutors and a sheriff. The Ohio Supreme Court and State Bar Association today named members of their previously announced joint task force. The committee is to meet publicly on Thursday at the Ohio State Bar Association in Columbus. “The task force will not decide whether Ohio should or should not have the death penalty,” Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor said in a statement. Instead, she said, panel members will conduct a thorough review of capital punishment to ensure that the state’s death penalty is administered in the most fair and judicious manner possible. The task force is expected to make recommendations sometime next year. An exact date has not been determined, court spokesman Chris Davey said. Retired 2nd District Court of Appeals Judge James Brogan will chair the panel. Other members are: Sara Andrews, deputy director for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction; Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters; Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Stephen McIntosh; Ohio State law professor Douglas Berman; 8th District Court of Appeals Judge Kathleen Keough; John P. Parker, a lawyer in private practice; Cleveland State law professor Phyllis Crocker; Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Linda Jennings; lawyer Samuel Porter with Porter, Wright, Morris and Arthur; Jon Paul Rion with Rion, Rion & Rion; Clermont County Sheriff Albert Rodenberg; Stephen Schumaker with the attorney general’s office; Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Solovan; Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John Russo; Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins; state Sens. Shirley Smith, D-Cleveland, and Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati; and state Rep. Lynn Slaby, R-Akron.