In what he said was his most difficult decision in office, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a historic legislation to ban capital punishment  in the state.    

The governor also commuted the sentences to life in prison for all 15 inmates remaining on death row. Illinois thus becomes the 16th state in the nation to  rescind the death penalty, a status that was hailed by human rights activists as being even more highly significant because Illinois had been  a state that actively sought capital punishment sentencing before rejecting it.    

Saying that his decision was strongly influenced by considering how the possibility of error in the judicial system could wrongfully execute  an innocent person, Governor Quinn stated,“If the system can't be guaranteed 100% error-free, then we shouldn't have the system.
   
It cannot stand.” He added, “I think if you abolish the death penalty in Illinois, we should abolish it for everyone.”   

Governor Quinn,our heartfelt applause for your benevolent and brave decision. May the blessing of such forgiveness prevail for a global society that sanctions all life.
   
For his wise and caring policy,Supreme Master Ching Hai is honoring Governor Quinn with the Shining World Leadership Award.    
   
http://www.france24.com/en/20110309-illinois-abolish-death-penalty-governor-pat-quinn-capital-punishment-usa
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-osler/governor-quinn-sets-the-r_b_833615.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/10/illinois-abolishes-death-_n_833933.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-illinois-death-penalty-history20110309,0,2336421.story
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty