The backlog of clemency petitions waiting for a decision from the Illinois governor's office has been in and out of the media spotlight for a couple of years. All told there have been around 3000 requests for clemency during Gov. Rod Blagojevich's tenure. Only 82 requests have been granted and nearly 2000 have not been addressed. Recently, Blagojevich pardoned 19 former convicts, but even that move drew criticism as at least one of the men pardoned had died years earlier.

Today, NPR's Morning Edition carried an interesting piece on a lawsuit filed against the governor by a group of convicted felons who say they've waited too long for a hearing. The suit is being spearheaded by the Cabrini Green Legal Clinic which argues that convicts shouldn't have to wait more than six months before they get an answer. You can listen to the full story here.