The US 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of former Illinois Governor George Ryan (R) and stated that they believe he did receive a fair trial...
More details after the flip...
In a 2-1 decision (Judge Diane Wood & Judge Daniel Manion for, Judge Michael Kanne against), the panel found Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer acted within her authority when she replaced two jurors during deliberations after an investigation by the Chicago Tribune revealed that they had failed to disclose information about their criminal backgrounds.
Judge Wood wrote for the majority opinion and stated "The fact that the trial may not have been picture perfect is, in itself, nothing unusual," a response that drew a harsh reaction from Judge Kanne who called Judge Wood’s concession that the trial wasn't picture perfect "a whopping understatement by any measure."
For what it's worth, Judge Kanne believes that both Ryan and Warner should be given a new trial.
The pair were convicted in April 2006 with Ryan being sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison and Warner 3 ½, on charges that he, as Illinois’ Secretary of State and then Governor, gave "sweetheart deals" to family, friends and co-defendant Lawrence Warner (whose conviction was also affirmed today).
The conviction also included charges that he used state resources and employees for political gain.
Both men were allowed to remain free while their appeal was pending but this court's decision severely limits Ryan's remaining legal options.
More information as it becomes available...
UPDATE: so far, comments on his hometown newspaper's website are coming down in favor of the conviction being upheld, let's see if that continues or not.
UPDATE 2: Ryan’s legal team has pledged to seek another appeal after a federal appellate court upheld his conviction earlier today, meaning that the case will go in front of the full 7th Circuit—a group of 11 judges—who will review the three-judge panel's decision.
Also of note is that one of Ryan’s attorneys, (another) former Illinois Governor, James Thompson (R), suggested that Ryan would appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary... though that seems highly unlikely given the fact that SCOTUS isn’t taking on too many new cases right now.
What I also found interesting is the fact that, in order to remain free pending the appeal, both men had been warned that would have to report to prison within 72 hours if they lost their appeal... so Ryan has, for now, dodged a bullet.
Let’s see just how long he can manage that...