A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge denied yesterday former Gov. George Ryan's latest plea to get out of prison after a federal bribery conviction. Ryan's 6 1/2 year sentence will end in the middle of next year.

Ryan contends the gifts he received were based on friendship, not bribes for financial benefit. The same court rejected this argument last year. But a U.S. Supreme Court case raised the burden of proof as to what constitutes bribery, prompting the judges to reconsider their decision on the issue.