Kenneth Biros could be the first death row inmate executed in Ohio since a lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court 14 months ago put a nationwide halt on the use of lethal injections

The state took its 1st step toward resuming lethal injections today,requesting a new execution date for a convicted murderer who spread his victim's dismembered body over parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Elaine Hughes is a senior majoring in journalism and political science and is The Daily Collegian's Thursday columnist. Her e-mail is "This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it!"

Joseph Clark didn't die right away.

At first, everything went according to plan. The lethal injection team stuck the needle in his arm and started the drug cocktail, which resulted in Clark breathing shallowly and appearing to have fallen asleep.

But after a few minutes, the Ohio convict raised his head, shook it back and forth and declared: "It don't work."

States must decide speed of lethal injections

COLUMBUS - The prosecution of Ohio's death penalty cases received a boost yesterday when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Kentucky's similar lethal injection procedure.

The decision, however, does not necessarily quash the claims of a group of Ohio death row inmates who argue that Ohio's lethal injection procedure violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. There are roughly 20 inmates who are close to having execution dates set.