UPDATE | Judge denies request for Ohio execution witnesses

COLUMBUS (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request by attorneys for Ohio death row inmates to allow extra witnesses of upcoming executions.

Attorneys want two "appropriately trained persons" such as a nurse anesthetist and a lawyer to ensure the execution is carried out in a constitutional manner.

The state is scheduled to resume executions July 26 after a more than three-year delay while Ohio searched for new supplies of lethal drugs.

Judge Michael Merz rejected the request today. He said there's no evidence a nurse anesthetist would be able to evaluate an inmate's consciousness from the viewing room.

He also said the person would be perceived as biased coming from the inmate's legal team.