By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
Chicago – Attorneys for former Illinois governor George Ryan are expected to be in court Monday asking a judge to free their client.
Ryan's attorneys will argue that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling restricting the use of the so-called "honest services" law means parts of his conviction should be thrown out.
Ryan was convicted in 2006 of racketeering, conspiracy, tax fraud and lying to the FBI. He has served about 3.5 years of a six year prison sentence.
Prosecutors have argued that Ryan's convictions should stand because his crimes involved bribes and kickbacks, which can still be prosecuted under the honest services provision. But defense attorneys say Ryan's actions as secretary of state and governor don't rise to the level of a bribe.