Our otherwise great U.S. senator, Dick Durbin, is apparently suffering a serious lapse in judgment regarding his request for the commutation of former Gov. Ryan's sentence to time served. One can only surmise that the recent loss of his daughter has awakened a sense of compassion in him that, unfortunately, meets his needs and the needs of the Ryans, but is a very serious blow to the judicial system of law and order in this country. He will live to regret his actions, whether he decides to run again in 2014 or not. The voters who have supported him over the years will now consider him a coward.