Excellent news on the death penalty front out of Illinois:

State lawmakers adopted a measure Friday to make Illinois' death penalty system fairer, virtually assuring a sweeping overhaul of the capital punishment process will go to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The House bill covers many of the recommendations made by a commission appointed by then-Gov. George Ryan, who suspended all executions in 2000 and cleared out death row of all 167 inmates at the end of his term earlier this year.

The measure makes it easier for murder defendants to get evidence that could help them in their trials, allows judges to second-guess jury death sentences and lets the Supreme Court set aside sentences it deems unjust.

It also sets up a pilot program for police to videotape interrogations and prohibits executing the mentally retarded.

The bill has now gone through both state houses. The amendments added by the House "are all but assured of passing" and the Governor is for it.