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00:00:00CAPTIONED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE
00:00:02--WWW.NCICAP.ORG--
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
00:00:05JOINING US.
MY NAME IS NICKIE ANTONIO
00:00:13COULD WE SOON WILL INTRODUCE
LEGISLATION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH
00:00:15PENALTY IN OHIO, REPLACING IT
WITH A SENTENCE OF LIFE WITHOUT
00:00:18PAROLE.
THIS IS LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO
00:00:20HOUSE BILL 160, WHICH WAS
INTRODUCED IN THE 129TH GENERAL
00:00:24ASSEMBLY, AT THE TIME WITH THEN-
LEGISLATOR TED CELESTE.
00:00:31I'M HAPPY TO BE JOINED BY MY
JOINT SPONSOR DAN RAMIS THIS
00:00:38MORNING.
STATES ARE INCREASINGLY PUTTING
00:00:42AN END TO THE USE OF THE DEATH
PENALTY.
00:00:43MARYLAND BECAME THE 18TH STATE
-- THE 18TH STATE -- TO END THE
00:00:49DEATH PENALTY.
WHY IS THERE A MOVEMENT TO BRING
00:00:53AN END TO THIS ARCHAIC
PUNISHMENT?
00:00:54PERHAPS BECAUSE THE USE OF
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT HAS BEEN
00:00:58FOUND TO BE EXPENSIVE,
IMPRACTICAL, UNJUST, INHUMANE,
00:01:02AND EVEN ERRONEOUS.
IT IS A PUNISHMENT WHICH HAS
00:01:08SHOWN TO BE ADMINISTERED WITH
THE DISPARITIES ACROSS ECONOMIC
00:01:12AND RACIAL LINES, AS WELL AS
HAVING BEEN SHOWN TO FAIL AS A
00:01:15DETERRENT TO VIOLENT CRIMES.
PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST
00:01:19COMPELLING ARGUMENTS TO END
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN OUR STATE
00:01:24CAME FROM OHIO'S SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE PAUL E. PFEIFER, ONE OF
00:01:31THREE REPUBLICAN STATE SENATORS
WHO ERECTED THE CAPITAL
00:01:40PUNISHMENT STATUTE IN 1981 AFTER
THE OLD LAW HAD BEEN RULED
00:01:41UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT.
00:01:45THE LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE
JUSTICE TESTIFIED AS A PROPONENT
00:01:49TO AND -- END THE USE OF THE
DEATH PENALTY.
00:01:57IN HIS WORDS, THE DEATH PENALTY
IN OHIO HAS BECOME "A DEATH
00:02:07LOTTERY.
THE APPLICATION IS HIT OR MISS
00:02:09DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU COMMIT
THE CRIME AND THE ATTITUDE OF
00:02:11THE PROSECUTOR IN THAT COUNTY."
HE ADDED, "I BELIEVE OHIO IS NO
00:02:17LONGER WELL SERVED BY OUR DEATH
PENALTY STATUTE.
00:02:18IT SHOULD BE REPEALED."
AT SOME POINT HE EVEN CALLED IT
00:02:22A DEATH LOTTERY.
IN 2011, AFTER THE GOVERNOR
00:02:28POSTPONED A DECISION, "THE NEW
YORK TIMES" CALLED IT "AN
00:02:35OMISSION THAT THE OHIO DEATH
PENALTY WAS BROKEN AND FURTHER
00:02:38PROOF THAT THE MACHINERY OF
DEATH CANNOT BE OPERATED
00:02:40RESPONSIBLY ANYWHERE.
IN 2011, THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS
00:02:44THAT OHIO HELD THE NATION'S
THIRD-LARGEST EXECUTION RATE.
00:02:49DESPITE THE 6-MONTH HIATUS, AND
THE FACT THAT THE WEST COURT --
00:02:55THE U.S. COURT -- CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT WAS REINSTATED IN
00:03:011976.
FACTORS UNRELATED TO THE CRIME
00:03:05ARE BETTER PREDICTORS OF WHO
WILL BE PUT TO DEATH THAN THE
00:03:07CRIME ITSELF, AND I BELIEVE THAT
IN OHIO WE DO NOT WANT TO BE
00:03:11KNOWN AS THE STATE THAT EXECUTES
THE MOST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.
00:03:16ALSO IN 2012, OHIO SUPREME COURT
CHIEF JUSTICE MAUREEN O'CONNOR
00:03:27FORMED A JOINT TASK FORCE TO
STUDY THE IT MINISTRATION OF THE
00:03:29DEATH PENALTY, AND WE WILL HEAR
MORE ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING.
00:03:31I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPLAUDED
JUSTICE O'CONNOR'S EFFORTS IN
00:03:37CONVENING THE TASK FORCE.
HOWEVER, I'M STARTING TO
00:03:40PARTICIPANTS TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO
MAKE THE LAW THAT WAS REENACTED
00:03:42IN 1981 MORE FAIR, I BELIEVE --
WE BELIEVE THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE
00:03:49THE CURRENT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
LAW MORE FAIR IS TO REPLACE IT
00:03:54TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR THOSE
RARE HEINOUS CRIMES.
00:03:58ACCORDING TO DEATH PENALTY
INFORMATION CENTER, AT LEAST 5
00:04:07PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FREED FROM
OHIO'S DEATH ROW, AND CURRENTLY,
00:04:13OHIO HAS 139 PEOPLE ON DEATH
THROW.
00:04:14OTHERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY
AGAINST THE USE OF THE DEATH
00:04:18SENTENCE, SUCH AS OHIO SUPREME
COURT -- FORMER OHIO SUPREME
00:04:22COURT JUSTICE EVELYN LUNDBERG
STRATTON MIDSHIPMEN AGAINST THE
00:04:26DEATH PENALTY AS ABOUT -- SHE
HAD BEEN AGAINST THE DEATH
00:04:30PENALTY AS JUDGMENT FOR THE
MENTALLY ILL, WHAT IS NOW
00:04:34OPPOSED TO THE DEATH PENALTY
ALTOGETHER.
00:04:37THE FORMER OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL
AND AUTHOR OF "FALSE JUSTICE"
00:04:46WAS QUOTED AS SAYING "WE'RE
PROBABLY BETTER AND SAFER AND
00:04:50SMARTER NOT TO HAVE A DEATH
PENALTY."
00:04:53AND AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY,
SITTING OHIO SUPREME COURT
00:04:58JUSTICE PAUL PFEIFFER NOW
OPPOSES THE DEATH PENALTY.
00:05:00I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HUMAN
TOLL PUT ON FAMILIES OF THOSE
00:05:03VICTIMS WHO ARE TORMENTED TO
RELIVE THE CRIME THROUGH APPEAL
00:05:11AFTER APPEAL AFTER APPEAL.
I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE AND HEARD
00:05:14THE STORIES OF MANY FAMILIES WHO
WOULD WELCOME AN AND -- WELCOME
00:05:17AN END TO THE SUFFERING WITH A
CONVICTION OF LIFE WITHOUT
00:05:20PAROLE.
NOT ONE EXECUTION IN THE STATE
00:05:22OF OHIO CAN EVER BRING BACK AT
THE LIFE OF A BELOVED VICTIM,
00:05:27NOR HEAL THE PAIN OF THEIR LOSS.
TODAY WE JOIN THOSE NOTABLE OHIO
00:05:32AND -- OHIOANS IN CALLING FOR AN
END TO THE USE OF THE DEATH
00:05:40PENALTY IN THE STATE OF OHIO.
WE ASK OUR FELLOW LAWMAKERS TO
00:05:43JOIN US IN THIS EFFORT TO
ACHIEVE JUSTICE AND STOP STATE-
00:05:47SANCTIONED KILLING.
AND RATHER THAN EXECUTE ONE MORE
00:05:51PERSON IN THE STATE OF OHIO, WE
SHOULD REPLACE THE DEATH PENALTY
00:05:54TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOW CALL UP MY
00:05:58JOINT SPONSOR ON THIS BILL,
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN
00:06:05RAMOS.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
00:06:10TODAY.
MY NAME IS DAN RAMOS, A
00:06:13REPRESENTATIVE FROM LORAIN
COUNTY.
00:06:15OVER THE LAST CENTURY, THE USE
OF THE DEATH PENALTY HAS
00:06:20DECLINED SUBSTANTIALLY
WORLDWIDE.
00:06:21OF THE 195 INDEPENDENT AND
OBSERVER STATES OF THE UNITED
00:06:25NATIONS, MORE THAN HALF HAVE
ABOLISHED IT OUT RIGHT ANNALEE
00:06:3120% OF THESE STATES MAINTAIN THE
USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN LAW
00:06:36AND IN PRACTICE, THE AMERICAS,
THE UNITED STATES, IS ONE OF
00:06:40ONLY 2 COUNTRIES THAT CARRIES
OUT EXECUTIONS.
00:06:46AMONGST THOSE COUNTRIES IN THE
AMERICAS, ALTHOUGH IT HAS OTHER
00:06:48BOOKS, IN NO LONGER CARRIES OUT
THE DEATH PENALTY -- IT NO
00:06:53LONGER CARRIES OUT THE DEATH
PENALTY, IS CUBA.
00:06:54WE ARE BEHIND CUBA.
THE UNITED STATES CARRIES OUT
00:07:00MORE EXECUTIONS THAN ANY OTHER
LIBERAL DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD.
00:07:03INSTEAD OF LEADING THE FREE
WORLD, OUR RECORD IS MUCH CLOSER
00:07:05TO COUNTRIES LIKE SAUDI ARABIA,
SUDAN, YEMEN, IRAQ, AND IRAN.
00:07:11THERE IS GROWING SUPPORT FROM
LEADERS ACROSS OUR STATE ON THIS
00:07:16ISSUE.
REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO TOUCHED
00:07:19ON THE STATEWIDE ELECTEDS'
POSITION ON THIS.
00:07:25JULIA BATES HAS SAID THAT THE
DEATH PENALTY CASES ARE
00:07:28"TORTUROUS" FOR THOSE INVOLVED,
INCLUDING FUSSY TUTORS, DEFENSE
00:07:36ATTORNEYS, VICTIMS FAMILIES WHO
ARE SUBJECT TO YEARS AND YEARS
00:07:38OF APPEALS.
UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE A COMMON
00:07:43BELIEF, THE DEATH PENALTY DOES
NOT SAVE THE TAXPAYER OR THE
00:07:48STATE ANY MONEY.
ON AVERAGE, DEATH PENALTY CASES
00:07:52CAN COST MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE
NUMBER CASE IN COURT THAT A LIFE
00:07:55WITHOUT PAROLE CASE REQUIRES.
AND MORE THAN 4 YEARS LONGER TO
00:07:58COMPLETE.
WHILE SOME MONEY CAN BE SAVED BY
00:08:03NOT HOUSING THE INMATE, FAR MORE
IS LOST WHEN AS MUCH AS $10
00:08:05MILLION PER CASES SPENT AT
TRIAL, TAXPAYER DOLLARS PER THIS
00:08:12IS AN EMOTIONAL DRAIN ON THE
FAMILY SEEKING CLOSURE AND A
00:08:13DRAIN ON THE TAXPAYER.
BECAUSE OF BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
00:08:19ACROSS OUR STATE RIGHT NOW, THE
DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO
00:08:21SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY IS OFTEN
MADE ON FINANCIAL MEANS, MEANING
00:08:26THAT COUNTY THAT HAS A LITTLE
BIT MORE MONEY IS LIKELY TO SEEK
00:08:29THE DEATH PENALTY THAN A COUNTY
HAVING LESS.
00:08:32IT IS -- AN INDIANA CRIMINAL LAW
STUDY COMMISSIONED THE RECENTLY
00:08:41RELEASED THE FINAL REPORT OF THE
YEAR LIKE STUDY OF THEIR STATE
00:08:42COST OF PENALTY -- THEIR STATES
'S DEATH PENALTY.
00:08:48IT COSTS MORE TO HAVE THE DEATH
PENALTY THAT LIFE WITHOUT
00:08:54PAROLE.
SIMILAR STORIES FROM COLORADO
00:09:02AND CALIFORNIA SHOW SIMILAR
RESULTS.
00:09:04IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO USE
TAXPAYER DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY IN
00:09:07THESE CURRENT TIMES, TO UTILIZE
THIS PUNISHMENT IF IT DOESN'T
00:09:10PROVIDE JUSTICE OR A DETERRENT
FROM CRIME.
00:09:14IN REGARDS TO THE LATTER, THE
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW AND
00:09:18CRIMINOLOGY PUBLISHED A REPORT
THAT SHOWED OVERWHELMINGLY THE
00:09:21MAJORITY OF EXPERT
CRIMINOLOGISTS, 87%, DID NOT
00:09:26BELIEVE THE DEATH PENALTY IS A
PROVEN DETERRENT TO HOMICIDE.
00:09:27THE SAME STUDY FROM INDIANA
SHOWS THAT THE RACE OF THE
00:09:33VICTIM CONTINUES TO PLAY A ROLE
IN CONVICTIONS.
00:09:36THAT IS INEXCUSABLE.
62% IN OHIO, SPEAKING OF COST,
00:09:46OF DEATH ROW PRISONERS COME FROM
7 COUNTIES.
00:09:4760% OF OHIO COUNTIES HAVE NO
PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW.
00:09:54HAMILTON COUNTY ACCOUNTS FOR 25%
OF ALL INMATES ON DEATH ROW BUT
00:09:57ONLY 9 THE CENTER OF THE CAPITAL
CRIMES OF MURDER HAVE TAKEN
00:10:00PLACE IN HAMILTON COUNTY.
THE DISPARITY AND HIGHLY
00:10:06CLUSTERED USE OF DEATH RATES
RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT EQUAL --
00:10:11UNEQUAL AND ARBITRARY
APPLICATIONS OF THE LAW.
00:10:14AS WAS MENTIONED BY
REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO, UNLIKE
00:10:18OTHER SENTENCES HANDED OUT BY
THE COURTS, THE DEATH PENALTY IS
00:10:22THE ONLY ONE THAT IS YOUR
REVERSIBLE IN LIGHT OF NEW
00:10:24EVIDENCE.
-- IRREVERSIBLE IN LIGHT OF NEW
00:10:26EVIDENCE.
EXECUTING THE ROBBERS AND
00:10:30ELIMINATES ANY CHANCE OF
REVERSING THE MISTAKE --
00:10:33EXECUTING THE WRONG PERSON TO
MAKE ANY CHANCE OF REVERSING THE
00:10:37MISTAKE.
THE NA EVIDENCE IS EXONERATED
00:10:39140 PEOPLE -- 100 40 PEOPLE
WRONGFULLY CONVICTED AND ALMOST
00:10:45SENTENCED TO DEATH BEFORE NEW
EVIDENCE WAS BROUGHT FORWARD.
00:10:47ULTIMATELY, MISTAKES REMAIN FAR
MORE LIKELY IN CASES INVOLVING
00:10:50POOR DEFENDANTS, WHO USUALLY
DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR
00:10:55LEGAL COUNSEL.
THE PRACTICE OF THE DEATH
00:10:59PENALTY IS NOT A DETERRENT TO
CRIMINALS, PROVIDES NO SAVINGS
00:11:02TO THE TAXPAYER, ACTUALLY COST
THE TAXPAYER MORE THAN OTHER
00:11:05FORMS OF PUNISHMENT.
IF IT INFLICTS PAIN ON A FAMILY
00:11:07OF A VICTIM AS THEY AWAIT
CLOSURE FOR THE DEATH OF THEIR
00:11:10LOVED ONE AND IS APPLIED EQUALLY
AND ARBITRARILY, IT IS FAR
00:11:17OVERDUE THAT OHIO TAKE ACTION TO
ELIMINATE THIS OPTION UNDER LAW.
00:11:22>> THANK YOU.
AND NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM KEVIN
00:11:31WERNER, WHO IS FROM THE GROUP
OHIOANS TO STOP EXECUTIONS.
00:11:37>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
00:11:39MY NAME IS KEVIN WERNER.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
00:11:46OHIOANS TO STOP EXECUTIONS.
THE NUMBERS AND THE STATISTICS
00:11:51THAT WE HAVE GATHERED OVER THE
PAST 33 YEARS SPEAK FOR
00:11:53THEMSELVES.
OHIO'S DEATH PENALTY SYSTEM HAS
00:11:58FAILED IN EVERY REGARD, IN EVERY
POSSIBLE WAY, TO PROMOTE A SAFE
00:12:04SOCIETY THAT KEEPS A VIOLENT AND
DANGEROUS PEOPLE AWAY,
00:12:12APPREHENDING THE PEOPLE
RESPONSIBLE FOR CRIMES, ALL THE
00:12:15WAY DOWN TO THE WAY THAT IT
IMPACTS MURDER VICTIMS' FAMILY
00:12:18MEMBERS.
THE VICTIMS FAMILY MEMBERS
00:12:23REALLY TAKE ON THE WORST OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
00:12:24THEY ARE FORCED TO ENDUR DECADES
OF APPEALS AND RETRIALS AND
00:12:30SENTENCES AND OVERTURNED. --
SENTENCES BEING OVERTURNED.
00:12:34WHAT THAT EQUATES TO HIS
UNCERTAINTY AND A JUSTICE SYSTEM
00:12:38THAT IS NOT SWIFT.
THE DEATH PENALTY SYSTEM HAS
00:12:41FAILED MURDER VICTIMS' FAMILY
MEMBERS FIRST AND FOREMOST.
00:12:45THE ENORMOUS COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH OHIO'S DEATH PENALTY ARE
00:12:52REAL.
THERE IS NO LONGER A QUESTION OF
00:12:53WHETHER THE DEATH PENALTY COSTS
MORE OR LESS THAN LIFE WITHOUT
00:12:56PAROLE.
THE STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE.
00:12:57THE DATA IS CONCLUSIVE.
THE DEATH PENALTY SYSTEM IS FAR
00:13:02MORE EXTENSIVE THAN LIFE WITHOUT
PAROLE.
00:13:03OHIO HAS A HISTORY OF CONDEMNING
INNOCENT PEOPLE TO DEATH.
00:13:10WE HAVE HAD 6 DEATH ROW
EXONEREES SINCE 1976.
00:13:17THE MOST RECENT IS IN 2012,
JOSEPH D'AMBROSIO OF CUYAHOGA
00:13:25COUNTY.
AT THE RISK OF EXECUTING
00:13:27INNOCENT PEOPLE ISRAEL AND
SOMETHING WE CAN NO LONGER NOR
00:13:30-- IS A REAL AND SOMETHING WE
CAN NO LONGER IGNORE.
00:13:33THE HISTORY OF THE OHIO DEATH
PENALTY SHOWS US THAT THE COUNTY
00:13:36IN WHICH A CRIME IS COMMITTED
HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT
00:13:38THE OUTCOME IS.
IT IS NOT ABOUT THE SAME
00:13:41LOBBYING APPLIED FROM ONE COUNTY
TO THE NEXT EVENLY.
00:13:45IT IS ABOUT WHAT COUNTY DID A
CRIME TAKE PLACE IN?
00:13:49A MUCH BIGGER PREDICTOR OF WHAT
THE OUTCOME WILL BE THAN THE
00:13:54CRIME ITSELF.
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, HISTORY
00:13:58SHOWS US THAT WE NO LONGER NEED
THE DEATH PENALTY IN OHIO.
00:14:02WE HAVE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE
MEASURES TO KEEP VIOLENT
00:14:06OFFENDERS FROM DOING HARM TO
CITIZENS.
00:14:09WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVE
WAYS TO DEAL WITH THOSE KINDS OF
00:14:14CRIMES.
ULTIMATELY, OHIO DOESN'T NEED A
00:14:19DEATH PENALTY ANY LONGER.
WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE
00:14:23EFFORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES
ANTONIO AND RAMOS TO REPEAL THE
00:14:29DEATH PENALTY.
HE WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING,
00:14:31WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BILL
BEING GIVEN FULL CONSIDERATION
00:14:33IT IS DUE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
00:14:36>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM
JIM TOBIN OF THE CATHOLIC
00:14:48CONFERENCE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
00:14:51I AM JIM TOBIN, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF THE CATHOLIC
00:14:54CONFERENCE OF OHIO.
WE REPRESENT ALL THE CATHOLIC
00:14:58BISHOPS IN THE STATE OF OHIO.
THERE IS A WRITTEN STATEMENT
00:15:02OVER HERE IF YOU WISH TO PICK
ONE UP LATER.
00:15:03ON BEHALF OF THE CATHOLIC
BISHOPS OF OHIO, I AM PLEASED TO
00:15:07STAND HERE WITH MY FELLOW
COLLEAGUES AND OTHER FAITH
00:15:09COMMUNITIES TO URGE THE END OF
THE DEATH PENALTY.
00:15:12WE THANK REPRESENTATIVES ANTONIO
AND RAMOS AND THE OTHER
00:15:20COSPONSORS OF THIS LEGISLATION
FOR HAVING THE POLITICAL COURAGE
00:15:22TO PURSUE SUCH AN IMPORTANT YET
DIFFICULT LIFE ISSUE.
00:15:27MURDER RIGHTLY INVOKES MORAL
OUTRAGE AND A CALL FOR JUSTICE.
00:15:30JUSTICE SHOULD REFLECT THE
SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE, SEEK
00:15:34RESTORATION FOR THE OFFENSE, AND
PROTECT SOCIETY.
00:15:37THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, LIKE SO
MANY OTHER FAITH COMMUNITIES,
00:15:42BELIEVES JUSTICE CAN OCCUR
WITHOUT RESORTING TO THE DEATH
00:15:45PENALTY.
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THE OHIO
00:15:50CATHOLIC BISHOPS HAVE ISSUED
STATEMENTS REAFFIRMING OUR
00:15:53TEACHING THAT THE DEATH PENALTY
SHOULD NO LONGER BE USED.
00:15:57THESE STATEMENTS STRESS OUR DEEP
CONVICTION THAT ALL HUMAN LIFE
00:16:03HAS VALUE AND DIGNITY, EVEN THE
LIFE OF THE WORST OFFENDER.
00:16:07THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO PROTECT
SOCIETY THAT THROUGH THE USE OF
00:16:09THE DEATH PENALTY.
TODAY, GIVEN THE MEANS AVAILABLE
00:16:14TO THE STATE FOR DEALING WITH
CRIME, CASES WHERE IT IS
00:16:17ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO USE THE
DEATH PENALTY ARE PRACTICALLY
00:16:21NONEXISTENT.
IN OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES,
00:16:24AS YOU HAVE HEARD, LIFE
IMPRISONMENT HAS SHOWN ITSELF TO
00:16:29BE A FAIR AND SAFE AND EFFECTIVE
ALTERNATIVE.
00:16:31UNLIKE THE DEATH PENALTY, LIFE
IN PRISON AND BETTER RESPONSE TO
00:16:36THE IMPERFECTIONS OF HUMAN
JUSTICE AND ALLOWS SEVERAL
00:16:40MISTAKES TO BE CORRECTED.
WE ENCOURAG LEGISLATORS TO
00:16:47CONDUCT HEARINGS ON THIS BILL
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY
00:16:50WHEN THE DEATH PENALTY IS ONLY
REMEMBERED AS PART OF OHIO'S
00:16:54HISTORY.
THANK YOU.
00:16:55>> NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM
REVEREND LEANDER HE -- REVEREND
00:17:05LEE ANNE REAT.
>> I'M THE REVEREND LEE ANNE
00:17:12REAT FROM ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH ON THE WEST SIDE OF
00:17:16COLUMBUS.
I'M HERE WITH THE REVEREND CRAIG
00:17:22FOSTER, ALSO FROM ST. JOHN'S
COLUMBUS, WHO IS ACTIVE IN
00:17:24PRISON MINISTRY.
AS A CHRISTIAN, AS AN
00:17:28EPISCOPALIAN, AS A CITIZEN OF
OHIO, I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE
00:17:35DEATH PENALTY ON MORAL AND LEGAL
GROUNDS, AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT
00:17:40REPRESENTATIVES ANTONIO AND
RAMOS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO
00:17:47ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY.
SCRIPTURE MAKES CLEAR OUR MORAL
00:17:49IMPERATIVE.
IN LEVITICUS, WE ARE INSTRUCTED,
00:17:55"YOU SHALL NOT TAKE VENGEANCE OR
BEAR A GRUDGE AGAINST YOUR
00:17:58PEOPLE, BUT YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
00:18:01JESUS IN THE GOSPEL EXPANDED ON
THAT LAW, SAYING, "YOU HAVE
00:18:10HEARD IT SAID, YOU SHALL LOVE
YOUR NEIGHBOR AND HATE YOUR
00:18:11ENEMY, BUT I SAY TO YOU, LOVE
YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE
00:18:15WHO PERSECUTE YOU."
WE ARE CALLED TO ASSIST -- TO A
00:18:23SYSTEM OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, A
SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS THE
00:18:27CITIZENRY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
SEEKS TO REHABILITATE THOSE WHO
00:18:31HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES.
HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR
00:18:35THEIR ACTIONS WHILE HAVING FAITH
IN THEIR ABILITY TO CHANGE.
00:18:40THE DEATH PENALTY GOES FAR
BEYOND THE STATE'S ROLE AS
00:18:47PROTECTOR OF THE INNOCENT WHEN
IT KILLS IN ORDER TO SEEK
00:18:52VENGEANCE.
THE DEATH PENALTY, AS WE EFFORT,
00:18:58DOES NOT DETER VIOLENT CRIME.
IT PROLONGS THE SUFFERING OF THE
00:19:02SURVIVORS, THE VICTIMS -- AND IT
COSTS FAR MORE THAN THE SENTENCE
00:19:12OF LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF PAROLE.
00:19:14THE DEATH PENALTY IS INHERENTLY
CLASSIST AND RACIST, WITH THE
00:19:21POOR AND THOSE OF COLOR
SENTENCED FAR MORE OFTEN TO THE
00:19:24DEATH PENALTY THAN OTHERS.
ONE STUDY THAT HASN'T BEEN
00:19:29MENTIONED IS THAT IN 2007, THERE
WAS A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE
00:19:32MARKET BAR ASSOCIATION THAT
CONCLUDED THAT OHIO WAS DEFICIT
00:19:39IN 93% OF THE PROTOCOLS NEEDED
FOR A FAIR AND ACCURATE DEATH
00:19:43PENALTY SYSTEM.
EVEN MORE TROUBLING, INNOCENT
00:19:49PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AND LIKELY WILL
CONTINUE TO BE PUT TO DEATH IF
00:19:56WE DON'T AND THE DEATH PENALTY.
-- IF WE DON'T END THE DEATH
00:20:03PENALTY TREATY THE EPISCOPAL
CHURCH, ALONG WITH OTHER
00:20:05DENOMINATIONS, HOW STATEMENTS
AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY THAT
00:20:10ARE SHARED WITH CHRISTIANS
THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE, AND WE
00:20:13PLEDGE OUR SUPPORT IN TRYING TO
END THE DEATH PENALTY IN OHIO.
00:20:17THANK YOU.
>> AND NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM
00:20:23RABBI ZINKOW.
>> I'M A RABBI MISHA ZINKOW AND
00:20:42I AM HERE REPRESENTING DOZENS OF
RABBINIC COLLEAGUES IN THE STATE
00:20:44OF OHIO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THE DEATH
00:20:47PENALTY.
WHILE WE ARE DEEPLY SYNTHETIC TO
00:20:52THE FAMILY -- DEEPLY SYMPATHETIC
TO THE FAMILIES OF MURDER
00:20:55VICTIMS, WE KNOW THAT THE
EXECUTION OF THE MURDERER
00:20:57DOESN'T BRING ABOUT CLOSURE TO
THE TRAGEDY.
00:21:00JEWISH TRADITION IN THE TORAH
DOES NOT OPPOSE THE DEATH
00:21:11PENALTY PER SE.
HOWEVER, THAT WAS SEEN TO BE
00:21:19MORE OF A THEORETICAL POSITION.
JEWISH TRADITION, WHICH WE HAVE
00:21:27OBSERVED FOR THE LAST 2000
YEARS, TELL MUSIC -- TALMUDIC
00:21:32TRADITION, OPPOSES THE DEATH
PENALTY BY SETTING THE STANDARDS
00:21:38SO HIGH FOR THE ADMINISTRATION,
THE APPLICATION OF THE DEATH
00:21:43PENALTY, THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO ADMINISTER THE
00:21:47DEATH PENALTY.
IN FACT, IN A TRACT OF THE
00:21:54TALMUD, IT SAYS, "A COURT THAT
EXECUTES A MURDERER ONCE IN 70
00:22:01YEARS IS A BLOODY COURT."
THE WEIGHT OF THE TRADITION
00:22:08THROUGHOUT THE THOMAS -- THE
TALMUD ABSOLUTELY OPPOSES THE
00:22:14DEATH PENALTY, BECAUSE, AS I
SAID, BY SETTING THE STANDARD IN
00:22:18THE PAST FOR VISITING --
ADMINISTERING THE DEATH PENALTY
00:22:22EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH AND
VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH.
00:22:26JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, 2
EYEWITNESSES HAVE TO WITNESS THE
00:22:34MURDER.
THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE
00:22:38CORRESPONDING TESTIMONY.
THEY MUST'VE -- HAVE HAD TO
00:22:45INFORM THE POTENTIAL PERPETRATOR
OF THE CRIME, OF THE PUNISHMENT
00:22:50THAT HE OR SHE MIGHT HAVE TO
SUBMIT TO, AND ULTIMATELY IT IS
00:22:57THE WITNESSES THAT MIGHT HAVE TO
ADMINISTER THE PENALTY.
00:23:05AS I SAID, THROUGHOUT THE TALMUD
THE STANDARDS ARE
00:23:12EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH AND
VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH.
00:23:14IN JEWISH TRADITION, THE BOTTOM
LINE ON IF THERE IS ONE, GIVEN
00:23:22THE WEIGHT OF THE ETHICAL
TRADITION THAT OPPOSES THE DEATH
00:23:23PENALTY, IS THE SANCTITY OF
HUMAN LIFE.
00:23:29EVEN THE SANCTITY OF THE LIFE OF
THE CRIMINAL.
00:23:31A SOUL THAT IS CREATED IN THE
IMAGE OF THE DIVINE.
00:23:36REPRESENTING MY COLLEAGUES
ACROSS THE STATE AND THE CENTRAL
00:23:42CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN RABBIS
THAT IS ON RECORD AS OPPOSING
00:23:44THE DEATH PENALTY, I SUPPORT
THIS BILL ALONG WITH MY
00:23:48COLLEAGUES BEHIND ME.
THANK YOU.
00:23:51>> SO IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT AS WE STARTED THIS
00:24:00PRESS CONFERENCE TALKING ABOUT
THE FACT THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
00:24:04HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE EXPENSIVE,
IMPRACTICAL, UNJUST, INHUMANE,
00:24:09AND EVEN ERRONEOUS, WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THOSE ISSUES THIS
00:24:17MORNING.
WE DID NOT TOUCH ON THE LAST
00:24:18FACTOR THAT OHIO HAS BEEN
GRAPPLING WITH, WHICH IS THE
00:24:22FACT THAT EVEN THE MANUFACTURER
OF THE MEDICATION THAT THEY USED
00:24:30TO END THE LIFE OF SOMEONE ON
DEATH ROW HAS SAID DON'T USE IT,
00:24:36WE DON'T WANT YOU TO USE
SOMETHING THAT WE CREATED AS A
00:24:39LIFE-SAVING DRUG TO TAKE THE
LIVES OF PEOPLE.
00:24:43AND SO EVEN THAT IMPRACTICAL
PART COMES TO BEAR RIGHT NOW, AS
00:24:52OHIO STRUGGLES WITH HOW EXACTLY
TO END THE LIFE OF SOMEONE ON
00:24:54DEATH ROW.
IF THAT ISN'T DIVINE
00:24:59INTERVENTION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
IS.
00:25:01IT SEEMS LIKE A SIGN TO ME THAT
IT IS TIME THAT OHIO AND --
00:25:08THAT OHIO END THIS PRACTICE.
OUR LEGISLATION SUGGEST THAT WE
00:25:14MOVE IN THOSE RARE, HEINOUS
CASES TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.
00:25:19I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS
MORNING AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE
00:25:20YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
00:25:23>> I DEFINITELY WILL WELCOME THE
CONVERSATION WITH FITZGERALD IN
00:25:54TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT I THINK IT IS, I
00:25:58BELIEVE IT IS, FOR ALL HIGHER TO
END THE DEATH PENALTY.
00:26:02I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT
CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
00:26:04>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE JUST
LEGISLATIVELY THAT THIS IS
00:26:08SOMETHING THAT WOULD -- THIS
BILL WILL EITHER PASS OR WON'T
00:26:11PASS BY THE LAST DAY OF THIS
GENERAL ZUMBA, WHICH IS
00:26:16BASICALLY THE -- GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE
00:26:20END OF THE TERM OF THE KASIC
ADMINISTRATION.
00:26:27WE ARE NOT USING THIS TO MAKE A
POLITICAL POINT OR ANY OTHER
00:26:30KIND OF POINT.
WE ARE INTRODUCING THIS WITH
00:26:33HOPES OF IT ACTUALLY PASSING
THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
00:26:35MY HOPE IS THAT THIS SEASON
GOVERNOR KASICH'S DESK THIS
00:26:41TERM.
MY HOPE COME MY ATTENTION, IS
00:26:45THAT YOUR QUESTION IS MOOT,
RESPECTFULLY.
00:26:47[LAUGHTER]
>> [INAUDIBLE]
00:26:54>> YOU KNOW, ON A PERSONAL
LEVEL, MY -- I BELIEVE IN THE
00:27:19DIGNITY AND THE WORTH OF EVERY
HUMAN BEING THAT IS PUT IN FRONT
00:27:21OF ME.
IT IS A PRACTICE REMIND MYSELF
00:27:24THAT SOMETIMES.
THANKFULLY, I PUT MYSELF IN A
00:27:30PLACE WHERE I GET TO USE THAT
PRACTICE ALL THE TIME.
00:27:31HAVING SAID THAT, IT IS
IMPORTANT, AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID,
00:27:37FOR US TO FOCUS ON THE POLITICAL
REALITY OF THE STATE OF OHIO.
00:27:42THE DEATH PENALTY IS EXPENSIVE.
IF WE HAVE FISCAL CONSERVATISM
00:27:49AMONG US, THIS IS A BILL FOR
THEM.
00:27:50THIS SHOULD BE A BILL THEY CAN
SUPPORT.
00:27:55WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN
THE SANCTITY OF LIFE.
00:27:57THIS IS A BILL THAT THEY SHOULD
DEFINITELY SUPPORT, EVEN THE
00:28:01MOST CONSERVATIVE AMONG US
SHOULD SUPPORT THIS BILL.
00:28:04WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER
WEIGHTY ISSUES AROUND THIS BILL,
00:28:11EVEN DOWN TO THE FACT THAT RIGHT
NOW OHIO IS STRUGGLING WITH HOW
00:28:15TO EVEN EXECUTE SOMEONE.
TO ME, THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME --
00:28:22THIS IS THE PERFECT RESOLUTION
TO WHAT WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH IN
00:28:26THE STATE OF OHIO ON SO MANY
LEVELS.
00:28:30I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR POLITICAL REALITY.
00:28:34OUR POLITICAL REALITY SHOULD BE
TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THIS
00:28:36STATE OF OHIO.
>> AND IT IS ALSO -- WE
00:28:39MENTIONED FORMER JUSTICE
STRATTON, JUSTICE PFEIFER AM A
00:28:44FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL -- THESE
ARE NOT LIBERAL DEMOCRATS.
00:28:49AND BECAUSE CASE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL, NO ONE INDICATE THAT A
00:28:57JUSTICE IS A POLITICAL PERSON,
BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
00:28:58CERTAINLY WAS.
HE TRIED TO BE THE LEADER OF HIS
00:29:02PARTY, WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS OF
HIS PARTY.
00:29:03I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT,
AS YEARS GO BY, 32 YEARS SINCE
00:29:09THE DEATH PENALTY WAS REINSTATED
, ESPECIALLY AMONG SENIOR
00:29:14MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE THIS A
00:29:15WHILE COME OF THIS IS BECOMING
MORE POPULAR, THIS IDEA OF
00:29:19ELIMINATING THIS IS BECOMING
MORE POPULAR.
00:29:20SINCE GOVERNOR KASICH HAS ONLY
VETOED ONE BILL AND HIS ENTIRE
00:29:26TERM, THE IDEA THAT HE WOULD
AUTOMATICALLY VETO IT IS
00:29:32SOMETHING I HOPED HE WOULDN'T DO
.
00:29:34IF THIS LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY
PASSED TO THIS, I WOULD HOPE
00:29:37THAT HE WOULD FOLLOW THE WILL OF
HIS OWN PARTY AND SIGN IT INTO
00:29:39LAW.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER
00:29:44QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU.
00:29:49THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions