CHICAGO – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ordered a lower court to again look at former Gov. George Ryan’s bid to overturn his corruption convictions, offering the imprisoned Republican a chance, however slim, at a new trial.

The decision marks one of the few significant rulings that have gone in Ryan’s favor since he was convicted of accepting vacations, gifts and cash for steering state business to insiders. When told of the ruling, the 78-year-old former governor sounded pleased, said Jim Thompson, one of Ryan’s attorneys.

“He was very gratified. ... I could hear it in his voice,” Thompson, himself a former Illinois governor, told The Associated Press. “This is his first legal victory since proceedings against him started more than six years ago.”