Oregon Court Upholds Governor's Right to Deny Prisoner's Wish to Be Executed

The Oregon Supreme Court unanimously agreed in rejecting twice-convicted killer Gary Haugen's argument that postponing his death sentence was cruel and unusual punishment. He has expressed his wish to die for what he's done.

A death warrant was signed by a judge in November of 2011 before Governor John Kitzhaber stepped in and halted all executions while he's in office.

Haugen rejected that and appealed. All seven Justices ruled in favor of the governor, saying he has clemency power in death penalty cases and that there's nothing in the law to allow Haugen to reject it. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that sitting on death row is not cruel and unusual punishment

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