January 1, 2003 10:58 PM

U of I professor to nominate Ryan for Nobel Peace Prize

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. George Ryan will be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in reforming the death penalty.

A University of Illinois College of Law professor announced Tuesday that he is nominating the governor for what is arguably the most prestigious honor on earth.

Few people have standing to nominate someone for the honor, Professor Francis Boyle, who teaches international law, said.

Members of parliaments, professors of international law, past peace-prize recipients and a few others can nominate people for the prize, he said. ``I've been asked repeatedly to nominate people for the award, and I've always declined. This will be the first person who I've nominated.''

Boyle, who has opposed the death penalty for decades, said Ryan has taken a courageous stand in halting executions in Illinois.

The governor issued a moratorium on all executions in Illinois three years ago. He now is contemplating whether to use his pardon powers to reduce the sentences of those now sentenced to die. He has reviewed the cases of all 160 people on Illinois' death row.

Boyle characterized himself as a political independent and declined to say whether he voted for Ryan four years ago, but he said he is impressed with the governor's stand for human rights.

A Norwegian committee decides who receives the honor and nominations must be made before Feb. 1.

Boyle said he not only is nominating Ryan, but also will orchestrate a campaign for his consideration.

Noting that Europeans decide on the award, Boyle said concerns such as the license-for-bribes scandal likely will not be an impediment to Ryan receiving consideration.

Ryan never has been legally charged with any wrongdoing in the scandal that has implicated many in the secretary of state's office he once led. The federal investigation is continuing.

Ryan said Tuesday that when he announced the moratorium, he didn't consider how much attention it would generate internationally. ``I didn't really think about that. I just knew we had a system that was broke.''

Thirteen wrongly convicted men have been released from the state's death row.

``Europeans view the death penalty as a blot on our human-rights record,'' Boyle said. ``By choosing George Ryan, they would be sending a strong message against the death penalty in the United States. Recipients are chosen not just to honor them, but also to send a message.''