Op-Ed: Ron Welch: President Joe Biden’s decision to save a Columbus cop killer undermines our justice system
Biden's last-minute commutations for murderers undermines how America is a nation of laws, Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch writes in his latest op-ed. Here's why...
As the Muskingum County Prosecutor, my guiding principles have always been to enforce our laws, advocate on behalf of the victim, and balance compassion and the rule of law.
That’s why it’s so troubling that when Americans were traveling and preparing for Christmas, President Joe Biden unilaterally decided on December 23, 2024, to commute the death sentence for Ohio cop killer Daryl Lawrence.
Lawrence was sentenced to death by a jury of his peers for his decision to murder Columbus Police Officer Bryan Hurst as Lawrence robbed a bank in 2005.
Officer Bryan Hurst’s family's response says it best: “while this is truly distressing news on a personal level for my family, it also feels like a complete dismissal and undermining of the federal justice system. Lawrence's sentence was imposed by a jury, and it should be upheld as such.”
We live in a country of laws, which means not only did the prosecutor successfully prosecute this cop killer, but a jury of 12 people also had to decide if it warranted the death penalty. That’s not all: there are numerous appeals available, including appeals from both the Ohio State Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court, and Biden’s decision to circumvent that process was wrong.
For those who believe this is a step forward in criminal justice reform, there are always changes that can improve the criminal justice system, and I do believe those who serve their time should receive a second chance. That said, to take a repeat bank robber who murdered a cop working an extra shift to provide for his wife and newborn daughter, and change his sentence is wrong.
Furthermore, President Biden, of all people, knows that if you agree or disagree with the death penalty, the proper way to reform it is to pass a law through the legislative branch and then have either the governor or the president sign that into law.
Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 individuals on death row was wrong. It’s a slap in the face to the victims, law enforcement, and our judicial system that provides everyone with equal justice under the law.
Ron Welch is the Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney.
