executive clemency


Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to executive clemency: amnesty

executive clemency

n. the power of a President in federal criminal cases, and the Governor in state convictions, to pardon a person convicted of a crime, commute the sentence (shorten it, often to time already served), or reduce it from death to another lesser sentence. There are many reasons for exercising this power, including real doubts about the guilt of the party, apparent excessive sentence, humanitarian concerns such as illness of an aged inmate, to clear the record of someone who has demonstrated rehabilitation or public service, or because the party is a political or personal friend of the Governor. (See: pardon)

Copyright © 1981-2005 by Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill. All Right reserved.
Mentioned in ?
References in periodicals archive ?
sitting President for perceived misuse of executive clemency authority.
THE DUE PROCESS BONA FIDES OF EXECUTIVE SELF-PARDONS AND BLANKET PARDONS
Executive clemency is a valuable tool, one that Presidents have
Revitalizing the clemency process
In 2014's gubernatorial race in Maryland, Republican Larry Hogan campaigned on using his executive clemency more generously than his opponent would.
The case for clemency: to forgive prisoners is divine--or as close as government gets
(44) Chief Justice Marshall, in one of the earliest recorded interpretations of the executive clemency power, described it thus:
"The governor's court of last resort": an introduction to executive clemency in Alaska
(12) Executive clemency appears more promising on cursory examination: its flexible and broad nature allows the president and state governors to pardon or commute sentences at will, including those sentenced during the mandatory-injustice period.
Correcting mandatory injustice: judicial recommendation of executive clemency
The executive clemency was given on the condition that Estrada would not engage in any attempts to undermine the government.
Estrada refuses to pull out from presidential race
Contents Background Legal Effect of Executive Clemency Warrants of Pardon Department of Justice Regulations Contacts Author Contact Information Acknowledgments The President's authority to issue pardons is delineated in Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which states: "The President shall ...
An overview of the presidential pardoning power
The purpose of this article is to explore why the presidential pardon power has been invoked by our last three presidents not merely for the traditional reasons of showing mercy or ensuring justice, but also in circumstances where the president may have enjoyed a personal benefit from exercising executive clemency. Presidents George H.W.
The law: presidential misuse of the pardon power
Parole has been eliminated in many states, and executive clemency is an endangered species.
The death of mercy
"I hereby grant executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada," chief presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.
Estrada pardoned
The Public Attorney's Office has been seeking the release of the men under executive clemency, saying they have been in prison for more than two decades.
Arroyo pardons ex-soldier jailed for Aquino murder
The executive clemency hearing would be separate from the parole hearing, he said.
Convicted rapist now seeking clemency from governor

Legal browser ?
Full browser ?