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Will we get more commutations from President Bush in the weeks ahead?

By Douglas A. Berman

When it comes to executive clemency exercised by the President, pardon grants tend to generate the most headlines, whether it is President Ford's pardon for Nixon or President Clinton's pardon for Rich or President Bush's pardon (and take back efforts) for Toussie.  But, especially in our modern of extremely long federal sentences, I sure wish commutations would get move love and attention.  Helpfully, as evidenced by this column, Debra Saunders is with me on this front: My fear is that the negative fallout from the Toussie story will prompt Mr. Bush to issue fewer pardons and commutations.  Mr. Bush has been too stingy with this power, even as the foolish inflexibility of federal mandatory minimum sentences has created many worthy recipients...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on January 05, 2009 (boomark / email).