Former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican from Illinois, was convicted of fraud that ended his political career after one term in 2003. Ryan, 72, was indicted on 22 counts of mail fraud, racketeering, rent and other offences. Despite Ryan’s indictment on corruption charges, University College of Law Professor Francis A. Boyle nominated him for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Boyle nominated Ryan several times for his efforts to reform the American death penalty system. As governor in 2000, Ryan declared a moratorium on the Illinois death penalty system. In 2003, before his departure from office, he changed the prison term of all 167 death row inmates to life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Ryan was contacted and congratulated by prominent figures like Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Pope John Paul II for his reform on capital punishment. Boyle nominated Ryan for the upcoming 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

According to a press release from The Campaign to Support the Nomination of George H. Ryan for the Nobel Peace Prize, “Francis A. Boyle has stated that, ‘George Ryan is the beginning of the end of the death penalty in America.'”

Also nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize are Chicago Attorneys Karen Conti and Greg Adamski. Former Vice President Al Gore was nominated for his efforts to raise global warming awareness.

Since 1901, the Nobel Foundation has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to individuals and organizations for achievements in literature, physics, chemistry, medicine and humanitarian efforts. There are currently 167 nominees for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize according to the preliminary count received by Nobel officials.

More nominations are expected.

According to Nobelprize.org, to submit a proposal for the Nobel Peace Prize, the nominator must be a member of national assemblies, governments or international courts; professors of social sciences, history, philosophy, law and theology; directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes; former recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize; and active or former members and advisors of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

In September 2006, Ryan was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for corruption charges. His sentence is still pending.

Despite his efforts to reform the death penalty, responses to his nomination are mixed.

“George Ryan’s tenure in office contributed to Illinois’ reputation as a haven for political corruption. That being said, I think Ryan should be commended for both ordering a moratorium on executions and commuting the sentences of all prisoners on death row,” said Justin Cajindos, senior in LAS and president of the University’s chapter of the College Democrats.

Cajindos doesn’t believe that Ryan deserves to be awarded the Nobel Prize.

“Ryan being a convicted criminal argues against his worthiness as an award recipient,” he said.