Illinois governor George Ryan has shocked death penalty supporters and opponents alike with his last-minute, sweeping decision granting clemency to all of Illinois' 167 death row inmates, converting their sentences into life sentences without possibility for parole.
Ryan, who set the stage for death penalty reform in 2000 when he issued a moratorium on executions in Illinois after 13 inmates had been found wrongly convicted, made this one of his last actions as governor. He leaves office on Monday.
As expected, this has outraged death penalty supporters, while elating death penalty opponents.
Supporters such as Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin W. Lyons are skeptical of the move.
"What an amazing coincidence that he holds this nugget in his pocket until the last moment," Lyons said. "Why would he do that?"
Dianne Clements, president of Justice for All, a Texas-based group supporting the death penalty, posed a theory.
"It has nothing to do with the death penalty. It has nothing to do with right or wrong. It has to do with Gov. Ryan building a legacy," Clements said.
Since Ryan took office in 1999, he has been dogged by federal investigation and accusations of fraud. He has not been charged.
"As far as I'm concerned, the death penalty has never been the real issue. It's a smoke screen," said Jacqui White, whose sister's murderer will be allowed to live.
Where one stands on the death penalty is secondary to the real issue. Ryan's move is ill-timed and will do little to cause sweeping changes in the justice system.
In addition, a decision of this magnitude should not have been made in light of the accusations against Ryan.
If anything, Ryan's move will bring into question the power of executive clemency. From that perspective, Ryan's benevolence may have done his reputation and our justice system more harm than good.
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