Evaluating Fairness and Accuracy in Ohio’s Death Penalty System

Speakers:

• John Murphy, Executive Director, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association
• Don Schumacher, President, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

In September, the American Bar Association's Death Penalty Moratorium Project released the Ohio Death Penalty Assessment Report, concluding that Ohio fails to "afford every capital defendant fair and accurate procedures" and identifying 10 areas in need of reform. On October 28, the final report of the Project was released, and highlighted what it said are serious problems in the nation's system of capital punishment, including sloppy collection and testing of DNA and other types of evidence, underfunded and understaffed crime laboratories, and persistent racial bias. The report calls for a nationwide moratorium on executions until significant improvements are made within the capital justice system. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court stayed three executions last month, imposing a de facto moratorium pending its decision in Baze v. Rees, a case scheduled for oral argument in January.

Mr. Murphy was instrumental in enacting Ohio's death penalty statute, and has written and lectured on the subject of capital punishment extensively. Schumacher has tried more than 50 death penalty cases. Together, they will discuss and debate the conclusions of the recent ABA reports, the effect of the Supreme Court rulings, and the current state of the capital justice system in Ohio.

Please join us from noon until 1:15 p.m. on November 27th for this engaging and informative program. The cost is $15.00 ($10.00 for students). Members and non-members alike are always welcome. RSVP to Will Kamb at [email protected] or 614-507-3057. Pay at the door or in advance by cash or by check (to "The Federalist Society," P.O. Box 1434, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1434). To join the Columbus Lawyers Chapter, include an additional $25.00 payable to The Federalist Society. We look forward to seeing you on November 27th.