It's been almost a year since Gov. George Ryan created a distinguished panel to study how to fix Illinois' system of capital punishment.
Nobody disputes that flaws run deep and wide.
Understandably, coming up with a set of recommendations to fix them presents a monumental responsibility. Former federal judge Frank McGarr, who chairs the 14-member panel, said last fall it would be at least another six months before commissioners would issue any recommendations. Then this past week, one panel member said no report would be released until this coming fall at the earliest. That's too bad, because if meaningful reforms are ever to pass the state legislature, now is the time to do it. We urge the committee to at least provide interim recommendations so legislators will have a chance to act on them during the upcoming spring session.