Jurors generally glad to see conviction upheld

Jurors who convicted former Gov. George Ryan on corruption charges last year said Thursday they felt vindicated by the federal appeals court's decision.

But a former juror who was dismissed during deliberations said the latest ruling is just another injustice against the former governor.

"I felt like we did a good job on the day we made our decision," said former juror Karen James of Oak Lawn. "I had no regrets about it."

Former juror James Cwick of Glen Ellyn agreed.

Cwick said he was frustrated that Ryan's appeal was centered around juror misconduct and the way U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer handled jurors during the trial.

"Ryan's attorneys were giving us a bad name the last year and a half," Cwick said. "It was frustrating. We knew we didn't do anything wrong in there. We followed the orders. We cooperated fully."

Former juror Denise Peterson of Hawthorn Woods said she felt particularly singled out by Ryan's defense team.

Part of the appeal concerned Peterson's decision to bring an article from a legal magazine into deliberations to try to force another juror, Evelyn Ezell, to deliberate.

The judge had warned jurors not to bring in outside materials, but Peterson said she didn't do anything out of line.

"The defense kept on saying I brought in illegal material," Peterson said. "We had a juror who refused to deliberate. I Googled what to do working with difficult people.

"For them to say I brought this illegal document, no offense, but my youngest child asked if it was laced with cocaine," she said. "It wasn't case law or anything."

But Ezell says the document did involve case law, and it was just one in a series of actions meant to remove her from the process.

"I was the only one voting not guilty, and therefore yes, I was singled out," Ezell said. "I think when they've got it in for you, they've got it in for you. It's just too bad because they had it in for (Ryan) because he pardoned those prisoners on death row."

Former juror Kevin Rein of Glen Ellyn, however, said Ezell's claims and those of the defense just weren't true.

"This whole thing's been an eye-opener," Rein said. "I did feel sorry for Mr. Ryan. Nobody wants to go to prison, even if it is minimum security. But not anymore.

"I would love to see him just go to prison," Rein said.