21 October 2024 :
October 18, 2024 - Ohio. Governor DeWine grants reprieves to 3 death row inmates
Executions for Stanley Adams, John Drummond, and James Hanna postponed to 2028
In a significant move, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has issued reprieves of execution for 3 death row inmates at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution, citing ongoing difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. The affected inmates—Stanley Adams, John Drummond, and James Hanna—will now face new execution dates in 2028, giving the state time to address the persistent problem.
Stanley Adams, who was originally scheduled to be executed on February 19, 2025, has had his execution date moved to February 16, 2028. John Drummond, scheduled for April 16, 2025, now faces execution on March 15, 2028. James Hanna’s execution, which was to take place on May 14, 2025, has been postponed to April 19, 2028.
The reprieves come as Ohio continues to grapple with a shortage of lethal injection drugs, a problem that has plagued the state for years. Governor DeWine attributed the delays to difficulties in securing drugs for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) without jeopardizing public safety. Pharmaceutical suppliers have been increasingly reluctant to sell drugs for use in executions, fearing legal challenges and the potential impact on their broader business operations.
Ohio has struggled with this issue since at least 2014, when several executions were delayed due to the state’s inability to obtain a reliable drug supply. Despite Ohio’s ongoing challenges, many states have continued to carry out executions using a variety of methods. In 2024 alone, 20 inmates were executed in 8 states across the country, according to available records. While some have argued that other states’ ability to carry out executions undermines Ohio’s position, the state has faced unique hurdles that persist, making the procurement of drugs more complicated.
The future of the death penalty in Ohio remains uncertain as lawmakers, advocacy groups, and the public debate the ethical and logistical challenges associated with lethal injection. With these latest reprieves, the focus will likely return to finding a permanent solution to Ohio’s execution drug shortage.
Governor Mike DeWine has been a consistent voice in Ohio’s evolving debate over the death penalty. Though not outright abolishing it, his actions and statements in recent years suggest increasing opposition to the practice in its current form.
Since taking office, DeWine has repeatedly delayed executions, citing concerns over the availability and legality of the lethal injection drugs Ohio uses. His reprieves of execution for Stanley Adams, John Drummond, and James Hanna are part of a broader trend that reflects his discomfort with the death penalty’s implementation. He has called the current system “unsustainable” due to the difficulties in acquiring execution drugs, legal complications, and the growing opposition from pharmaceutical companies.
In fact, DeWine has repeatedly expressed concern that, under current conditions, Ohio is unlikely to carry out further executions unless the state can change its lethal injection protocol. He has also supported efforts in the state legislature to examine alternatives to lethal injection, or even consider whether the death penalty should remain part of Ohio’s justice system.
Though DeWine has not publicly called for an end to capital punishment, his consistent delays in executions and his remarks about the system’s flaws have led many to speculate that his opposition to the death penalty is growing. His actions contrast with the more traditional approach in Ohio, where the death penalty has historically been supported by many lawmakers and law enforcement officials.
As Governor, DeWine faces pressure from both sides of the issue, with some calling for the abolition of the death penalty and others pushing for the resumption of executions. While he hasn’t fully committed to either camp, his administration’s consistent reprieves and push for drug protocol reform suggest that Ohio’s use of the death penalty may be on pause for the foreseeable future.
