The Ohio House has passed a bill, sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, to conduct an in-depth review of the state's death penalty system. Law Prof Doug Berman of Sentencing Law and Policy has the details, including links to a Cincinnati Inquirer article and one in the Toledo Blade discussing the bill.

The governor and legislature would appoint an 18-member commission to look at whether those on death row received adequate legal counsel, whether capital cases are resolved fairly, and how delays in the system can be overcome.

TalkLeft has noted a few times the hypocrisy of pro-lifers who don't oppose the death penalty. So this comment by the Republican sponsor was particlularly heartening to read:

"I am 100 percent pro-life," Brinkman said, noting that applies to abortion and the death penalty. "I told my wife that the first time I get a sentencing bill, I'm going to move this. I'd like to abolish (the death penalty) or have a moratorium, but you've got to start somewhere."

Maybe soon we'll finally see a license plate that says, "Choose Life. End the Death Penalty."

The text of the Ohio bill is here. It now moves to the Ohio Senate. From there, let's hope it goes to Texas, California, Florida, Pennyslvania, North Carolina, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma, to name a few.

For up to date death penalty news, check out the blog Abolish the Death Penalty by David Elliott. It is the official blog of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) .