Reactions to death row commutations
(CNN) -- Outgoing Illinois Gov. George Ryan announced Saturday he had commuted the sentences of all of the state's death row inmates after pardoning four others the day before. Politicians, inmates, attorneys and family members of victims killed by felons had diverse reactions to the decision.
"Because of the spectacular failure to reform the system, because we have seen justice delayed for countless death row inmates, with potentially meritorious claims, and because the Illinois death penalty system is arbitrary and capricious, and therefore immoral, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death." -- Gov. George Ryan
"I support the governor's decision on the moratorium. I think he is right to review all of the cases on a case-by-case basis. I think that is a moral obligation. He's been right to do that. But I disagree with his decision to provide blanket clemency. I think a blanket anything is usually wrong. There is no one-size fits all approach to this. We're talking about convicted murderers. And I just think that -- that is a mistake." -- Illinois Gov.-elect Rod Blagojevich
"It was a traumatic feeling. A sigh of relief. A lot of pressure that was lifted from me, that I didn't realize so much pressure was on me. I was hopeful that I'd get there, but I never entertained the thought of getting there." -- Leroy Orange, one of four death row inmates Ryan pardoned Friday
"If the elected leaders of the 37 other death row states in America took the energy, sincerity and common sense ... approach as did Governor Ryan, they would be shocked to find the glaringly frightening truths about their own states' death penalty systems." -- Sister Helen Prejean, author of "Dead Man Walking"
"It took a lot of courage for what he did. I was hoping for the best but I wasn't sure if he was going really to have the heart and the guts to make that call. ... Miracles do happen." -- Aaron Patterson, one of the pardoned inmates
"My son is in the ground for 17 years and justice is not done. This is like a mockery." -- Vern Feuling, parent of man killed in by inmate on Illinois death row
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
