Lawmakers OK Death Penalty Bill in Illinois
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The state Legislature gave final approval Thursday to sweeping safeguards designed to prevent errors in death penalty cases and restore credibility to Illinois’ criminal justice system.
Many of the reforms were recommended by a commission established in 2000 by then-Gov. George Ryan, who suspended executions in Illinois and granted clemency to all 167 death row inmates before he left office in January.
The bill would make it easier for murder suspects to defend themselves and give courts extraordinary powers to set aside death sentences.
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