Article updated: 1/11/2013 4:30 PM

Friday marks a decade since Ryan emptied death row

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Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan called for a moratorium on executions in Pennsylvania at a rally on Oct. 11, 2003.

Associated Press

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It was 10 years ago that former Gov. George Ryan commuted the sentences of 167 Illinois death row inmates. At the time, Ryan said he had to act because Illinois’ capital system was “haunted by the demon of error.”