What actions did Illinois Governor George Ryan take after wrongful-conviction concerns arose?

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In response to concerns regarding wrongful convictions and persistent errors in the administration of capital punishment, Illinois Governor George Ryan took two significant actions:

  • Moratorium: On January 31, 2000, Governor Ryan declared a moratorium on all executions in Illinois. This decision followed the exoneration of 13 individuals who had been sentenced to death row, a number that nearly equaled the 12 inmates executed in the state since 1977.12
  • Clemency: In 2003, Governor Ryan granted clemency to all 167 individuals remaining on the state's death row.1

While these actions were praised by legal scholars and anti-death penalty advocates, they faced intense criticism from proponents of capital punishment, who accused the governor of an abuse of executive power.1