Death penalty doubts

Death penalty doubts

Plain Dealer: For the second time in two months, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has overridden his Parole Board, halting an execution and changing the prisoner’s death sentence to life behind bars. Unlike in the earlier case of Kevin Keith, there seems to be little doubt that Sidney Cornwell committed a heinous crime: When he opened fire on a Youngstown house in 1996, Cornwell was a Crips gang member trying to intimidate a rival. Instead he killed 3-year-old Jessica Ballew.

But Strickland — who has signed off on 17 executions as governor — was troubled that Cornwell, like Keith, may not have gotten a sufficiently vigorous defense. In Cornwell’s case, evidence was never heard that might have influenced the jury during the penalty phase of his trial.

To the Plain Dealer editorial board, which has long opposed the death penalty, Cornwell’s case is merely the latest argument for a moratorium on executions in Ohio. There needs to be a comprehensive study of death-row cases to see how capital punishment is applied in Ohio — including the caliber of representation for defendants.

During their campaigns, Gov.-elect John Kasich and Attorney General-elect Mike DeWine opposed such a review. They should rethink their positions and do what’s right.