Dillard, Reboletti want to reinstate death penalty in 'extreme cases'
Gov. Pat Quinn has given no indication whether he plans to sign or veto legislation that would abolish the death penalty in Illinois.
Nonetheless, suburban lawmakers who oppose its abolition are already at work preparing a backup plan.
Republican Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and Rep. Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst are preparing legislation that would reinstate the death penalty for what they've deemed the “worst of cases,” if Quinn signs the ban into law.
Dillard said the proposal would reinstate execution for five categories of offenders: mass murderers, child killers, those who inflicted torture, those who kill a police officer, firefighter or prison guard, or witnesses to a crime.
“That just goes right at the core of civilized society,” Dillard said.
Reboletti, an Elmhurst attorney who is one of a select few licensed to litigate death penalty cases in the state, agreed.
He also objected to the way the legislation came up for a vote, in the final hours of the veto session earlier this month.
“I don't think the action was taken by people who were truly representative of their districts. I think there would be much different result if this (came up) in the next months,” he said.
Reboletti said he and Dillard would like to hold hearings throughout the state on the issue.
On the campaign trail this fall, Quinn said he supports the death penalty for the “most heinous” circumstances. At the same time, he said the issue needs further study and he has kept the 10-year moratorium on executions, first put in place by Gov. George Ryan.
Quinn has said he is in the process of reaching out to individuals on both sides of the issue “to try to gather as much information as possible” to make an informed decision.
The governor has until mid-March to sign or veto the legislation. If he doesn't act by then, the legislation becomes law.
Governor's office spokeswoman Brie Callahan declined to comment on “any pending legislation that has not been filed.”