CHICAGO (AP) — George Ryan's lawyer says the imprisoned Illinois governor was pleased to hear that the U.S. Supreme Court has ordered a lower court to reconsider his appeal.

Ryan's lawyer, Jim Thompson, says he called Ryan on Monday at the Indiana federal prison where he is serving a 6 1/2 year sentence. Thompson says Ryan was particularly pleased because this was the first significant ruling that's gone his way since his legal saga began.

The high court took issue with how Chicago's 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reached its decision but stopped well short of overturning Ryan's convictions.

The decision could lead to a new trial. But Thompson thinks prosecutors won't want to go through a new trial and that Ryan could be released on time served.