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Illinois Governor acts on backlogged clemency petitions and grants multiple pardons

By Douglas A. Berman

Critics of President Obama often assail him for being just another Chicago politician, but this recent press report on actions by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn leave me wishing President Obama would acted more like his hometown politicians when it comes to the exercise of clemency power.  Here are the details: Gov. Pat Quinn is granting pardons to dozens of people convicted of crimes. Quinn acted on 407 petitions Friday. He pardoned 147 of their crimes and authorized two others who had previously been pardoned to seek expungement of their records. Quinn also denied 258 petitions. Since Quinn took office he has acted on 769 petitions, but the backlog built up by his predecessor remains large. Quinn spokeswoman Marlena Jentz says there are still about 2,450 petitions awaiting action...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on April 06, 2010 (boomark / email).