I'd say a good deal more than three years in toto, though Ryan hopped the bandwagon relatively late in the game. The Northwestern J-School helped to start this movement (and probably merits the prize more than any pol) which now even includes a downstate "Innocence Project" at our very own UIS (albeit one which does not deal with capital crimes). I agree that Ryan did a good thing, but the Nobel Prize? That would be like giving it to Nixon or someone of that ilk, although Ryan is a good deal more petty than ol' Tricky Dick. It is a rare thing when a lame duck does anything but feather his cronies' nests. Ironic that, during this generous gesture, George was busy setting up his friends with lucrative state appointments which Blago is now attempting to terminate. Social justice and politics as usual make strange bedfellows.