Pending Ohio execution may spur review of death penalty system

On Sept. 15, Ohio death row inmate Kevin Keith is scheduled to be executed, unless his defense team can get clemency granted to their client before then. Keith was convicted of murdering three people in February of 1994. He maintains he is innocent, has alibis who confirm his story, and some question the testimony delivered by the key eyewitness. His execution, plus another scheduled to take place today in Ohio, would put that state on track for having the second most executions this year, after Texas.

But cases like Keith’s have prompted several high-level officials to call for a comprehensive review of Ohio’s death row cases.

We talk with Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul E. Pfeifer, one of the strongest advocates for a review of the system. We also talk with Bob Driehaus who is covering the story for The New York Times.