Rally Urges DeWine to Grant Clemency Hearing
Supporters delivered a clemency application for Keith LaMar, who has spent over 30 years on Ohio's death row and maintains his innocence.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Advocates rallied in Columbus and hand-delivered a clemency application to Gov. Mike DeWine's office, urging a clemency hearing for Keith LaMar. DeWine's office confirmed it received the application and said the matter is pending.
Why it matters
Under Ohio law, the governor must receive the parole board's input before deciding on clemency, so the outcome depends on a process still in progress. The request arrives as DeWine has repeatedly issued execution reprieves and has called for abolishing the death penalty in Ohio.
LaMar is scheduled to be executed in January 2030, and DeWine has issued execution reprieves since 2019 citing pharmaceutical companies' unwillingness to supply drugs for capital punishment. DeWine's office confirmed receipt of the clemency application last week and said the matter is pending, with no decision announced.
The players
Keith LaMar
LaMar is a death row inmate who has been incarcerated for more than 30 years and maintains his innocence in the 1995 convictions tied to the Lucasville Prison uprising.
Mike DeWine
DeWine is Ohio's governor, who has issued execution reprieves since 2019 and in June called on Ohio to abolish the death penalty.
Amy Acton
Acton is Ohio's governor-elect, and LaMar has said he will keep pursuing clemency under her administration if DeWine does not act.
The details
Supporters from Cleveland drove to Columbus and gathered outside the Vern Riffe Center, where DeWine's office is located, and an employee received the hand-delivered letter on Friday. A benefit concert for LaMar was held Friday evening at Natalie's Grandview, and LaMar, who maintains his innocence, was convicted in 1995 in the killings of five incarcerated men during the Lucasville Prison uprising.
Timeline
1993: The 11-day Lucasville Prison riot erupted.
1995: LaMar was convicted in the killings of five inmates.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Supporters rallied in Columbus and hand-delivered the clemency application.
January 2027: DeWine leaves office and Amy Acton takes over as governor.
January 2030: LaMar is scheduled to be executed.
Legal Context
LaMar's case traces back to the 11-day 1993 Lucasville Prison uprising, which left nine prisoners and a guard dead. The current clemency push comes as Ohio's execution process has been repeatedly delayed through reprieves under DeWine's administration.
Residents following Ohio's capital punishment policy may see changes depending on whether clemency is granted or the execution date proceeds. The case affects how the state handles death sentences as the governor's term nears its end in January 2027.
The takeaway
Clemency decisions in Ohio pass through the parole board before reaching the governor, so the timing of that review can shape the outcome. Readers tracking capital cases should watch for transitions in gubernatorial administrations, which can change how pending requests are handled.
What happens next
DeWine must receive the parole board's input before deciding on clemency, and LaMar is scheduled to be executed in January 2030 unless the matter is resolved first.
Further reading
For broader context on how these cases move through the system, see Criminal Justice coverage.
