GOVERNOR KASICH: There's #TooMuchDoubt to Execute

Governor John Kasich

SUCCESS! Earlier today (3/26/18) Governor Kasich granted clemency to WT Montgomery by commuting his death sentence. THANK YOU to all who took action. Please feel free to add your name to this petition - After Pesach we will send in the names of all who signed as a THANK YOU message!  

Petition From Jewish Faith Leaders to Governor John Kasich

While the Torah permits the death penalty, the Talmud, in Tractate Sanhedrin, imposes severe limits on capital punishment even when the crime is murder. There are countless preconditions which must be met in order for a Sanhedrin to issue and carry out an execution, many of which are designed not only to assess guilt, but levels of culpability. The execution of someone when there is any level of doubt about guilt or fairness is forbidden.

William T. Montgomery is scheduled to be executed in Ohio on April 11, 2018 for the 1986 murders of Debra Ogle and Cynthia Tincher. The Ogle and Tincher families have endured an incredible amount of pain. We continue to ask G-d for their healing.

Mr. Montgomery has maintained his innocence since his arrest, and only years after his trial did exculpatory evidence hidden by prosecutors come to light. This significant new information has never been heard in a court of law, and it raises substantial doubt about how the prosecution says the crime took place. Case documentation may be read in detail here. The good news is that on Friday, March 16, the Ohio Parole Board voted 6 to 4 to recommend that Mr. Montgomery not be killed. Now the decision is in Governor Kasich's hands alone.

We can't say if Mr. Montgomery is guilty or innocent, but we can say that Jewish law would never allow the execution of such an individual when there is so much doubt.

Being a religious Jew is not just about observing traditional mitzvot but also about being responsibly immersed within society as an active enlightened moral agent partnering for social progress that enhances dignity for all. Our engagement in the political and social realm of society may indeed be even more religiously important than our pious acts within the sanctuary.

Thank you for joining me by signing this petition and asking others you know to do so as well.

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz
Founder & President: Uri L'Tzedek: Orthodox Social Justice
Board of Advisors: Death Penalty Action



For more information visit: http://otse.org/case-documents-william-t-montgomery/
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To: Governor John Kasich
From: [Your Name]

Jewish tradition presents somewhat contradictory statements regarding the death penalty. While the Torah permits the death penalty, the Talmud, in Tractate Sanhedrin, imposes severe limits on capital punishment even when the crime is murder. There are countless preconditions which must be met in order for a Sanhedrin to issue and carry out an execution, many of which are designed not only to assess guilt, but levels of culpability. The execution of someone when there is any level of doubt about guilt or fairness is forbidden.

Today we are writing not about the death penalty as a whole, but about the next scheduled execution in Ohio. William T. Montgomery is scheduled to be executed on April 11. As you know, Mr. Montgomery has proclaimed innocence of the crimes for which he was convicted. We also share our concern for the families hurt by this tragedy. The Ogle and Tincher families have endured an incredible amount of pain. We continue to ask God for their healing.

There is substantial new information about this case that has never been heard in a court of law, which we find very troubling. This development also raises substantial doubt about how the prosecution says the crime took place. We are not experts on wrongful convictions or proper forensic science. All we have is our God-given conscience, which tells us this is wrong.

Certainly there are members of Jewish communities who support the death penalty in concept or in practice. However, we stand united in opposition to an execution where there is so much doubt. As people of faith and as protectors of life, we urge you to spare Mr. Montgomery. There is no moral argument in favor of taking this man’s life. Governor Kasich, we know you are a man of faith. We urge you to follow the recommendation of the Ohio Parole Board to stop this execution.