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January 19, 2009
Informed perspectives on the closing clemencies of the Bush Administration
Former pardon attorney Margaret Colgate Love sent me this little commentary via e-mail to wrap up President Bush's decision to wrap up the exercise of his clemency power with two final commutations to Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean:
I think it is significant that the Pardon Attorney apparently never weighed in on the Border Patrol agent cases (and evidently was never asked to weigh in), though the cases have been a clemency "item" for several years. This, together with the botched Toussie grant and the more than 4000 denials in the past 12 months, confirms for me that the Justice Department pardon program has ceased to serve any useful function. If these final grants provide the occasion for a top-to-bottom review of the clemency system, Bush will have done us all a favor.
In addition, there are lots and lots of old and new insights worthy of consideration at Pardon Power.
January 19, 2009 at 05:38 PM | Permalink
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Comments
Doug always a pleasure to read comments from Margaret Colgate Love. The clemency system has failed the common man of the United States. The clemency/pardon system needs a complete overhaul!
Posted by: Tarheel | Jan 19, 2009 9:38:46 PM
Shouldn't soon-to-be-President Obama recall Ms. Love to service as Pardon Attorney?
Posted by: Peter G | Jan 19, 2009 10:00:51 PM
