Jan. 2, 2003

Professor nominating Gov. Ryan for Nobel Peace Prize

George Ryan has been under fire during most of his reign as Illinois Governor for the alleged illegal selling of driver’s licenses when he was Secretary of State. But, now a University of Illinois Law Professor believes the governor should be heralded for his work to reform the state’s death penalty.

In fact, Francis Boyle is nominating Governor Ryan for the Nobel Peace Prize. He believes Ryan has a chance of winning the prize because Europeans oppose the death penalty and the Swedish Nobel Committee sometimes uses the award to send a political message.

Governor Ryan was rumored to have been in the running for last year’s Nobel Peace Prize before it went to former President Jimmy Carter.