Post by Anja on Aug 14, 2006 3:59:49 GMT -5
Ryan ordered to give reasons for pardons
Despite his objections, former Gov. George Ryan must answer why he
pardoned 4 former death row inmates who are now suing Chicago Police for
torture, a federal judge ruled.
In a decision by U.S. Magistrate Judge Geraldine Soat Brown, the Illinois
Prisoner Review Board must also make available to lawyers its formal
recommendations to Ryan before he pardoned the men in 2003. Ryan issued
the pardons at the same time that he commuted 167 death row sentences to
life terms, citing a flawed criminal justice system.
Soat Brown said Ryan must sit for depositions before Sept. 30. Ryan, who
was fighting the subpoena claiming "executive privilege," is likely to
appeal. Ryan was convicted on federal racketeering charges in April and is
scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 6.
The pardoned men, Madison Hobley, Aaron Patterson, Stanley Howard and
Leroy Orange, are suing police detectives led by former Cmdr. Jon Burge,
saying they were tortured into making false confessions. The men are using
Ryan's pardon as a basis of innocence as they sue the city and officers.
City Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle said the city wants Ryan to
talk about why he issued the pardons and what he referenced in making the
decision. That includes findings of the prisoner review board, which have
never been made public.
"We feel we have to explore the reasoning behind the pardons," Hoyle said.
Because plaintiffs say that Ryan pardoned them on an innocence basis: "we
should be able to ascertain if that's accurate." Ryan publicly cited that
DNA tests and court decisions went into his reasoning. But city lawyers
argue that DNA didn't factor into those cases and courts convicted the
men.
Prior to Ryan's clearing of death row, the review board held hundreds of
hearings to determine whether inmates were properly sentenced to death
row. They made confidential recommendations to Ryan. Ryan ended up
commuting all of the sentences.
Ryan said he shouldn't have to talk about the reasons behind the pardon
because it would "chill" the pardoning process for future governors. But
Soat Brown needled Ryan because he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to
talk about the cases in 2003.
The plaintiffs' lawyers also opposed the subpoena.
(source: Chicago Sun-Times)
Despite his objections, former Gov. George Ryan must answer why he
pardoned 4 former death row inmates who are now suing Chicago Police for
torture, a federal judge ruled.
In a decision by U.S. Magistrate Judge Geraldine Soat Brown, the Illinois
Prisoner Review Board must also make available to lawyers its formal
recommendations to Ryan before he pardoned the men in 2003. Ryan issued
the pardons at the same time that he commuted 167 death row sentences to
life terms, citing a flawed criminal justice system.
Soat Brown said Ryan must sit for depositions before Sept. 30. Ryan, who
was fighting the subpoena claiming "executive privilege," is likely to
appeal. Ryan was convicted on federal racketeering charges in April and is
scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 6.
The pardoned men, Madison Hobley, Aaron Patterson, Stanley Howard and
Leroy Orange, are suing police detectives led by former Cmdr. Jon Burge,
saying they were tortured into making false confessions. The men are using
Ryan's pardon as a basis of innocence as they sue the city and officers.
City Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle said the city wants Ryan to
talk about why he issued the pardons and what he referenced in making the
decision. That includes findings of the prisoner review board, which have
never been made public.
"We feel we have to explore the reasoning behind the pardons," Hoyle said.
Because plaintiffs say that Ryan pardoned them on an innocence basis: "we
should be able to ascertain if that's accurate." Ryan publicly cited that
DNA tests and court decisions went into his reasoning. But city lawyers
argue that DNA didn't factor into those cases and courts convicted the
men.
Prior to Ryan's clearing of death row, the review board held hundreds of
hearings to determine whether inmates were properly sentenced to death
row. They made confidential recommendations to Ryan. Ryan ended up
commuting all of the sentences.
Ryan said he shouldn't have to talk about the reasons behind the pardon
because it would "chill" the pardoning process for future governors. But
Soat Brown needled Ryan because he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to
talk about the cases in 2003.
The plaintiffs' lawyers also opposed the subpoena.
(source: Chicago Sun-Times)