March 16, 2016
By Robert Higgs
Columbus, Ohio – The state can try again (click here) to execute convicted murderer Romell Broom, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. The second attempt by the state would not constitute cruel and unusual punishment or violate his constitutional protection against double jeopardy.
In a 4-3 ruling, the court held that although technicians sought for two hours to access one of Broom's veins to administer a lethal dose of drugs, the constant sticks, while painful, were a preparatory step to carrying out Broom's sentence.
"The state's intention in carrying out the execution is not to cause unnecessary physical pain or psychological harm, and the pain and emotional trauma Broom already experienced do not equate with the type of torture prohibited by the Eighth Amendment," Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger wrote in the majority opinion....
