January 12th, 2011

In 1986, Randy Steidl was convicted of murder he did not commit. Jailhouse snitch testimony played a role in convicting Steidl and Herbert Whitlock, his co-defendant. Steidl won his motion for new trial in 2003, and was exonerated in 2004 after the government declined to appeal the decision.

Steidl’s conviction brought the wrongful conviction rate of death row inmates in Illinois to 6%. Today, Steidl is calling for the Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, to repeal the death penalty. Last week, the Illinois house of representatives voted to repeal the death penalty. Today, the senate followed suit. Now the bill will go to Quinn, who is expected to sign it.

If Quinn signs the bill, it will be a victory for The Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern Law School. CWC has worked for years to abolish the death penalty in Illinois.

Wilson, Todd and Ray Long. “Illinois death penalty ban sent to Gov. Pat Quinn.” Read the article here