[JURIST] The Illinois House [official website] passed a bill abolishing the death penalty [JURIST news archive] Thursday, but the bill must still be passed by the Senate with the General Assembly facing a lame-duck session. The amended bill (SB3539) [amendment, text] passed the House 60-54 [Chicago Tribune report] just hours after it had failed by a single vote. It marks the first time the state legislature has voted to abolish the death penalty since former Governor George Ryan put a…