High court justices won’t step down

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Two Ohio Supreme Court justices say they won’t step down from a death penalty case despite an attorney’s allegation of potential bias.

The lawyer for condemned killer Ashford Thompson says the justices cast their votes in the midst of campaigns that focused on their support for law enforcement.

At issue is the court’s 4-3 ruling last month in an appeal by death row inmate Ashford Thompson, who fatally shot a Twinsburg police officer in 2008.

Justices Judi French and Sharon Kennedy both said Thursday they saw no reason to step down.

Defense attorney Rachel Troutman wants a new hearing for Thompson, arguing campaign commercials for both justices demonstrated a tough-on-crime strategy.

that would be undermined by granting relief to a man who had killed a police officer.