Russ Feingold: “one year ago today, Governor George Ryan took the bold step of placing a moratorium on executions in Illinois. He…”

“one year ago today, Governor George Ryan took the bold step of placing a moratorium on executions in Illinois. He refused to sign off on a single execution in Illinois. Why? Because he saw that the system by which people were sentenced to death in Illinois was terribly flawed. In fact, by the time Governor Ryan made his decision, Illinois had seen more exonerations of innocent people than executions. There had been 13 exonerations and 12 executions. Of the 13 people found innocent, some were wrongfully convicted based on police or prosecutorial misconduct. Modern DNA testing played a role in yet another 5 exonerations. And in some cases, it was students from Northwestern University--people very much outside the criminal justice system--who played a key role in finding and presenting the evidence to secure the release of wrongfully condemned men. What did Governor Ryan do in the face of this risk of executing innocent people? Governor Ryan recognized the moral stakes that faced him and took the courageous step of suspending executions. He said, ``until I can be sure with moral certainty that no innocent man or woman is facing a lethal injection, no one will meet that fate.'' Is that too much to ask--that innocent men and women not be put to death? I believe the vast majority of Americans would say it is not too much to ask. Governor Ryan has been an ardent death penalty supporter, having argued vehemently for its use while a member of the Illinois legislature.”