Justice Bill O’Neill again dissented (this time without opinion) from an order of execution entered February 15, 2013 in State v. Van Hook, a case from Hamilton County. Van Hook is to be executed March 12, 2015.  Earlier this month, O’Neill dissented from the order of execution in the case of Jeffrey Wogenstahl.  Read that post here.

I suspect Justice O’Neill will continue to dissent on all further execution orders on cases decided before he became a justice. All eyes will be on Justice O’Neill when he has to hear his first death penalty appeal as a supreme court justice.  I’m anticipating a recusal motion from the prosecution, on the ground that O’Neill has prejudged the issue.  His response is bound to be interesting.