Key facts
- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has called for the abolition of the death penalty in the state.
- DeWine cited a lack of deterrence and moral justification as reasons for his stance.
- He was instrumental in crafting Ohio's current death penalty law in 1981.
- DeWine has delayed executions throughout his tenure as governor, leading to a de facto moratorium.
- His call for abolition puts him at odds with national Republican leaders like Donald Trump.
- Bipartisan bills to repeal the death penalty exist in the Ohio legislature but have not been brought to a vote.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who co-wrote the bill to reinstate Ohio’s death penalty more than 45 years ago, has called for the state to abolish capital punishment. DeWine stated on Tuesday that he no longer believes the death penalty is a deterrent to murder and that the moral justification he once held no longer exists. This announcement marks a significant shift for the 79-year-old governor, who was instrumental in crafting the 1981 law that remains in effect after the state's reinstated death penalty law was struck down in 1978. DeWine has consistently delayed executions throughout his nearly eight-year tenure as governor, maintaining a de facto moratorium on capital punishment since Ohio's last execution in 2018. He noted that the average time between sentencing and execution for the state's last 10 cases was 21 years, highlighting the potential for errors found during lengthy reviews. DeWine urged state lawmakers to act on abolition, suggesting that voters could decide if they do not. Bipartisan bills to repeal the death penalty are currently in the Ohio legislature, but leaders in the Republican-controlled chambers have not scheduled them for a vote. DeWine's stance puts him at odds with national Republican leaders, including Donald Trump, who advocates for expanding the death penalty.