The appeal comes down to two things:

 

Did the jury convict George Ryan because they thought he took bribes?  Or did they think the former governor received cash and campaign contributions from friends who weren’t expecting anything in return - yet still got government contracts. 

 

The reason that’s an issue is because the U-S Supreme Court changed the law prosecutors had used to convict him.

 

So Ryan’s lawyers appealed.  Today’s ruling from the federal appeals court in Chicago said it IS clear that jurors thought Ryan took a bribe when they convicted him.

 

That means Ryan has to finish his 6 and a half year prison sentence - which he’s expected to complete in the middle of next year.

 

But his attorney has said Ryan could qualify for work release in January.