Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Sentencing Law and Policy

Criminal Law

: Sentencing Law and Policy

Through the federal clemency looking glass with Holder

By Douglas A. Berman

Though I am still ruminating over the selection of Eric Holder for the next Attorney General (as evidenced here and here and here), the latest political buzz over the nomination has me depressed about what I see as the likely impact of the Holder choice on public perceptions of federal executive clemency. Consider this Politico reporting in this new piece that the Marc Rich pardon will be a central part of debate in Holder's confirmation hearing: Eric Holder?s long and distinguished public service career may now be defined by what he did in his last full day at the Justice Department.  The former deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration, who?s now President-elect Barack Obama?s reported choice to be attorney general, is expected to be confirmed by the Senate ? but not without some serious scrutiny of his involvement in President Bill Clinton?s controversial pardon of fugitive financer Marc Rich...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on November 20, 2008 (boomark / email).