Simon to Quinn: Sign Death Penalty Bill

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 25, 2011 10:30PM

We know that Gov. Quinn is set to sign the bill recognizing civil unions into law next Monday at a public signing ceremony downtown. But what about the bill to abolish the death Penalty in Illinois. Quinn sure does seem to be dragging his heels on that. He's said that he would study the matter, although capital punishment has been studied to death in Illinois (pun intended) and found lacking. Maybe Quinn just needs some good counsel.

Enter Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon. Simon today made public a two-page letter she sent Quinn advocating that he sign the death penalty abolition bill into law. In a measured tone that brings to mind comparisons with her father, the late Illinois Senator Paul Simon, Sheila Simon wrote:

"Even in the best of circumstances, our system allows for error. We try criminal cases to a standard of 'beyond a reasonable doubt.' It is a higher standard than the burden in civil cases, but it is not 'beyond all doubt.' Our system links an irrevocable punishment to a standard where jurors could have some nagging questions about the defendant's guilt. The results demand pause.

"Since 1977, 20 people sentenced to death in Illinois have been freed because they were found innocent or the cases against them collapsed.

"I am proud to have been a prosecutor. I feel I did a good job for the people of the State of Illinois by ensuring that those who are guilty of crimes are punished. But our criminal justice system, even when operated in the best of circumstances, is subject to flaws. As a matter of public respect for our justice system, we cannot tolerate error in execution.

"As a former prosecutor and your Lt. Governor, I urge you to end the death penalty in Illinois."