Condemned Ohio inmates' injection claim denied

COLUMBUS (AP) — A federal judge has rejected claims by two condemned Ohio inmates challenging the constitutionality of the state’s lethal-injection process.

The two are the next inmates scheduled to die in the state, with Abdul Awkal set for execution June 6 and John Eley of Mahoning County set to die July 26.

The two challenged Ohio’s lethal-injection process on the grounds it fails to guarantee the state won’t execute someone who is insane, mentally disabled or was a juvenile when the crime was committed.

U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frost said today Awkal and Eley have misunderstood Ohio’s long-running injection lawsuit, which focuses on the process of administering the lethal drugs, and don’t back up their claims.