This week, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber announced that he was halting executions in his state for the remainder of his term, proclaiming, “I refuse to be a part of this compromised and inequitable system any longer.”

Governor Kitzhaber, a doctor, served two previous terms as governor from 1995 to 2003 – during which he presided over two executions of men who gave up their appeals and asked to die. “I have regretted those choices ever since...because in practice Oregon has an expensive and unworkable system that fails to meet basic standards of justice.”