As the George Ryan racketeering case verdict nears, tension is mounting for the jury to reach a decision.

Former Illinois Governor Ryan is accused of steering state contracts and leases to friends including co-defendant Larry Warner, in exchange for such things as gifts and use of a vacation home. Ryan’s defense claims the gifts did not affect the contract decisions and claims there was no fraud.

According to NIU political science Professor Brendon Swedlow, racketeering laws are broad, designed to get people who don’t have direct criminality and that the claims are usually a last resort.

If the contracts were given to Larry Warner and others based on the gifts, Ryan would be charged with racketeering.

“Giving [contracts] to a buddy rather then the best person is what makes it illegal,” said William Schroeder, a Southern Illinois University law professor.

The recent jury change helped Ryan’s defense, experts say. Two jurors were replaced by alternates this week, and the jury have restarted deliberations anew, which previously had lasted over a week.

“The jury issue creates possibility of a mistrial,” Swedlow said. “The defense only needs to convince one juror Ryan is innocent.”

According to Swedlow, in Ryan’s and most racketeering cases, the defense only needs to prove “reasonable doubt,” which is a methodology for interpreting the facts with the law — reasonable doubt asks the jurors, “Based on critical analysis, do the facts match up to a conviction?”

It does not describe absolute certainty.

“The defense will try and create reasonable doubt of the crimes he’s being accused of,” Swedlow said.

Schroeder said there is a good chance he will get convicted.

“I hope he’s convicted. I’d say I have a 70 percent guess he will be,” he said. “The jurors have been out for a while — I hope it’s not because of another juror problem,” he said.

Robert Pritchard (R-Hinkley) has not formed a general opinion of the case, but says he is sure “the courts are handling it fine.”

Pritchard did note that he is disappointed with the ethics laws in Illinois.

“It is ‘pay to play’ in this state, which is ethically wrong,” Pritchard said.

Pay-to-play refers to system where the government will only award contracts to those companies or individuals that have made contribution campaigns.