Opening Keynote Address for the Executing Justice Conference Friday April 25, 2003 / 4:00 - 5:30 PM McCune Conference Room, 6020 HSSB Part of the “Executing Justice: America and the Death Penalty" Conference On January 11, 2003, Governor George Ryan commuted all Illinois death sentences to life in prison or less, sparing the lives of 167 people awaiting execution on his state's death row. Gov. Ryan's historic decision followed his declaration, almost three years earlier, of a moratorium on executions. During the moratorium, Gov. Ryan established an independent commission to study the death penalty, and in 2002 the Commission released its report, detailing findings of pervasive injustice in the criminal justice system and recommending that the death penalty be abolished if serious reforms were not enacted. As co-chair of the Illinois Commission on the Death Penalty, former U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Sullivan played a crucial role in the process leading up to Gov. Ryan's mass commutation. In his talk, Mr. Sullivan will discuss his experience working with the Commission, and address issues relating to criminal justice reform. This event is sponsored by a "Critical Issues in America" grant, the Law and Society Program and the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center. This lecture is part of the “Executing Justice: America and the Death Penalty" Conference. Top of Page <<Back