Oregon Death Row Inmate Wants to Drop Appeals

Gary Haugen, an inmate sentenced to Oregon's death row for the 2003 killing of a fellow prisoner, is expected to waive all future appeals of his death sentence at a hearing Friday in a move that could clear the way for Oregon's first execution since 1997.

Haugen, who has written letters in recent weeks saying he wants to drop any appeals and expressing his "disgust" with the judicial system, is scheduled to appear before Marion County Circuit Judge Joseph Guimond for a death-warrant hearing .

"I ask the court to at least respect my will and initiate the process for execution A.S.A.P!" Haugen wrote in an April 10 letter to the state court administrator. Haugen decried the "arbitrary and vindictive actions of this system" and said there will no efforts by him or anyone on his behalf to appeal his death sentence.

Source: The Oregonian