Federal judge rejects Ohio's new lethal injection process
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A federal judge has declared Ohio's new lethal injection process unconstitutional and delayed three upcoming executions.
The ruling Thursday by Magistrate Judge Michael Merz followed a weeklong hearing over the three-drug method Ohio planned to use Feb. 15 on death row inmate Ronald Phillips.
Merz rejected Ohio's use of a sedative used in problematic executions in Arizona and Ohio. The judge also barred the state from using drugs that paralyze inmates and stop their hearts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lawyers for Phillips argued the method announced last year is worse than a similar procedure used years ago.
The state defended the new process as constitutional and said a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year paved the way for its use.
Phillips execution would have been the first in the state since January 2014.