WKSU News: Ohio Supreme Court hears arguments over second execution date

Tuesday, June 9, 2015 Ohio Supreme Court hears arguments over second execution date Is a second execution attempt constitutional? by WKSU's STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF KAREN KASLER	Reporter Karen Kasler

Romell Broom's September 2009 attempted lethal injection was halted after an unsuccessful two-hour search for a suitable vein

Courtesy of Ken Piorkowski

The Ohio Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments Tuesday on a controversial death penalty case, just after setting execution dates for five other convicted killers. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

LISTEN: Ohio Supreme Court to hear appeal from Romell Broom

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The justices will hear the appeal from Romell Broom. His September 2009 attempted lethal injection was halted after a two-hour search for a suitable vein. Broom says a second execution attempt would be an unconstitutional second punishment for murdering 14-year-old Tryna Middleton in 1984. But the state says since the IV was never inserted, there was never a first execution attempt.

The court Monday set execution dates for five inmates: David Sneed and James O’Neal are set for August and October 2018, while Elwood Jones, Archie Dixon and Timothy Hoffner’s dates are in early 2019. Executions have been on hold since last year’s troubled and lengthy execution of Dennis McGuire.

The first lethal injection under the state’s new single-drug protocol is that of Ronald Phillips this coming January.