Gov. stops all executions in OR: 'I refuse to be a part of this compromised and inequitable system'

[The Straight Story]

Gov. John Kitzhaber stops all executions in Oregon: 'I refuse to be a part of this compromised and inequitable system'

SALEM -- Gov. John Kitzhaber announced today he will not allow the execution of Gary Haugen -- or any death row inmate -- to take place while he is in office.

The death penalty is morally wrong and unjustly administered, Kitzhaber said.

The governor cited his constitutional authority to grant a temporary reprieve for Haugen, in effect canceling the planned Dec. 6 lethal injection of the twice-convicted murderer. Haugen waived his legal appeals and has been preparing for the execution, which would have been Oregon's first in 14 years.

The change of heart comes as a surprise for a governor who twice before -- in his first term as governor -- allowed executions to go forward. Despite his personal opposition to the death penalty, Kitzhaber said he was upholding the will of the people in allowing the 1996 execution of Douglas Franklin Wright and the 1997 execution of Harry Charles Moore.

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/11/gov_john_kitzhaber_stops_all_e.html

[roguevalley]

1. Oregon does this to people. LONG LIVE OREGON!

[qb]

2. K&R Damn - I didn't know Oregon was a death penalty state!

How backwards of them.
Gov. Kitzhaber has singlehandedly improved the image of his state.

[teddy51]

3. Kudo's to the Governor. n/t

[rhett o rick]

4. Bravo. nm

[gratuitous]

5. EXCELLENT!

That's a change I can believe in. Haugen is a monster, and his death sentence was for killing another inmate while he was serving a life sentence for killing someone else. He waived his appeals, and wanted a speedy execution. Kitzhaber, perhaps drawing on his earlier experience in signing death warrants, has decided enough is enough. Perhaps Haugen can now come to terms with his own actions, rather than looking to the justice system to put a period to his life.

Kitzhaber will undoubtedly take a lot of heat for this, but I support him in his decision.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. k&r

[duhneece]

7. NM's Governor did the same

Gov. Toney Anaya in New Mexico commuted all death sentences in 1986.

Always glad when an elected leader stops this barbarity.

[N7Shepard]

8. Nice job. I'd love an 11th hour commuting of all their sentences to life without parole though.