>Here in Illinois there were so many cases where someone was sentenced to death -- and in many cases executed -- and it turned out later, from DNA evidence or the confession of another, that the governor put a moratorium on executions. Overzealous prosecutors who clearly cared more about their conviction records than guilt or innocence were a big part of the problem. So Gov. Ryan, who in most regards was a typically sleazy Illinois pol, said we're not going to do this any more unless we can get this situation straightened out. The moratorium has been in effect for several years now.

Grisham just wrote a nonfiction book on a case like this in Oklahoma.

http://www.amazon.com/Innocent-Man-Murder-Injustice-Small/dp/0385517238/sr=1-1/qid=1167921277/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3407299-2331237?ie=UTF8&s=books

Q: Why this case?
A: Ron Williamson and I are about the same age and we both grew up in small towns in the south. We both dreamed of being major league baseball players. Ron had the talent, I did not. When he left a small town in 1971 to pursue his dreams of major league glory, many thought he would be the next Mickey Mantle, the next great one from the state of Oklahoma. The story of Ron ending up on Death Row and almost being executed for a murder he did not commit was simply too good to pass up.

Q: You take on some pretty controversial and heated topics in your book--the death penalty, prisoner’s rights, DNA analysis, police conduct, and more--were any of your own beliefs challenged by this story and its outcome?
A: None were challenged, but my eyes were open to the world of wrongful convictions. Even as a former criminal defense attorney, I had never spent much time worrying about wrongful convictions. But, unfortunately, they happen all the time in this country, and with increasing frequency.