Akron Beacon Journal Editorial: Justice, mental illness and the death penalty

Three years have passed since a statewide task force made 56 recommendations to improve the conduct of the death penalty. Lawmakers have enacted fewer than 10. The courts, too, have been slow to act, though the Ohio Supreme Court led the way in forming the panel. Among the most notable recommendations yet to become law would exclude from the death penalty defendants who suffered from serious mental illness at the time of the crime.

The proposal appears to have strong support. The task force approved the proposal by a 15-2 vote. At one point, nearly every member of the Ohio Senate expressed backing, only to see Keith Faber, then the chamber’s president, stand in the way.

Now the legislation has been revived as House Bill 81, sponsored by state Rep. Bill Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican, and Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat. Committee hearings have been held. The time has come to advance this sensible legislation, out of committee, to the floor and then the Senate.

Read more at Ohio.com