Proceed with Ohio's capital punishment

Americans waited for the court to rule, and now it's time to follow through.

It won't end opposition to the death penalty. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled last week that Kentucky's method of executing prisoners isn't cruel, paving the way for states that use lethal injection to move ahead with their plans.
Ohio is one of the states that in essence instituted a moratorium on executions until the high court ruled, and it's time for the state to resume its work.
Kentucky's case centered on a so-called "three-cocktail mix" used to execute convicted killers. Kentucky is among 36 states that use lethal injection to carry out the death penalty. Nebraska uses electrocution.
Ohio, which last executed a prisoner in 2007, uses two drugs to complete the process.
The high court ruled 7-2 in favor of Kentucky's method, and we encourage Ohio to proceed as soon as it's feasible.
Last week's decision might push some states to examine the effectiveness of a single drug instead of the three Kentucky uses to sedate, paralyze and kill prisoners.
Two Ohio executions made news because of the time it took to complete the process. In May 2007, it took so long to complete inmate Christopher Newton's execution, he required a bathroom break. In May 2006, inmate Joseph Clark cried out that the first injection wasn't working, according to a published report.
Ohio shouldn't change its method unless a change would make the process more efficient.
The ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States won't silence critics any more than courts will stop sending criminals to death row.
In the days following the ruling, death penalty opponents said they'll continue watching the process and bring to light any problems that occur.
That's their right, just as it's opponents' right to vocalize their support for capital punishment.
So, it's important to remember that Ohio voters said they wanted the death penalty, and politicians listened.
Polls show more than 60 percent of Americans support the death penalty.
Americans waited for the court to rule, and now it's time to follow through.