Comment of Sen. Patrick Leahy, Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Gov. George Ryan's Moratorium On Executions In Illinois

January 31, 2000

[Gov. George H. Ryan Monday officially announced that he plans to block executions in that state until an inquiry has been conducted to determine how and why more death row inmates have been exonerated than executed in Illinois since 1977, when Illinois reinstated capital punishment. Following is the reaction of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the leading Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, who is readying a package of death penalty reforms that address the same problem identified by Gov. Ryan.]

"Governor Ryan's decision is courageous and timely. I hope that more states will follow Illinois' lead.

"This will also be a catalyst for a similar review in Washington. Regardless of whether people are for or against the death penalty, it is undeniable that shocking numbers of innocent people are falsely convicted and sentenced to death. The criminal justice system is often unable to admit mistakes, even when they involve the death penalty. We should have zero tolerance for executing the innocent. It is time to make sensible reforms that can dramatically reduce these errors, like ensuring competent counsel and prompt access to new crime-fighting tools such as DNA typing."