Law Prof Nominates Imprisoned Gov. for Nobel Peace Prize, Sees Message in No. 167
Imprisoned former Illinois Gov. George Ryan deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for halting executions in the state, according to a University of Illinois law professor who nominated him for the honor.
Francis Boyle is allowed to make nominations for the prize because he is an international law professor, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch blog, Political Fix. Securing the Nobel for Ryan has become “an annual crusade” for Boyle, the blog says.
Ryan remains in prison following his conviction for political corruption. According to a 2006 story by the Post-Dispatch, Boyle believes Ryan was persecuted by a pro-death penalty Justice Department for his decision to pardon four inmates and commute the death sentences of 163 others to life in prison.
Boyle notes that 167 people escaped death sentences because of Ryan—and he was later charged with taking $167,000 in cash and benefits for himself and family members in exchange for state contracts. Boyle told the newspaper that prosecutors’ use of the number “167” was “no coincidence. That was clearly designed to send a message [from prosecutors] to Ryan and the abolition movement: ‘This is the price you pay.’ “
Hat tip to the Huffington Post.
