Court: Illinois Gov. Ryan Could Commute Death Sentences | Chicago Tribune

Court: Gov. Could Commute Death Sentences

By RYAN KEITH
Associated Press Writer
Published January 23, 2004, 10:59 AM CST

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Friday that former Gov. George Ryan had the power to commute the sentences of everyone on the state's death row before he left office last year.

The Republican governor commuted the sentences of 167 inmates and pardoned four others, acting three years after he temporarily halted all executions in Illinois.

The state attorney general challenged Ryan's constitutional authority in 32 of the cases, arguing some of the inmates hadn't sought clemency as required by state law and others didn't have death sentences at the time because their cases were being appealed.

The Supreme Court justices said Friday that a governor's pardon power is essentially unreviewable.

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I am adamantly opposed the death penalty.