Miss. Court Blocks Some of Barbour's Pardons

By Jeralyn, Section Inmates and Prisons
Posted on Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 08:20:46 PM EST
Tags: pardons (all tags)

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The Attorney General of Mississipi succeeded today in having a state court judge block 21 of the 200 pardons granted by outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour:

A Mississippi judge has temporarily blocked the release of 21 inmates who'd been given pardons or medical release by Republican Haley Barbour in one of his final acts as governor. Circuit Judge Tomie Green issued an injunction late Wednesday at the request of Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood.

AG Hood said the pardons violated the state constitution by not giving notice the inmates had applied for relief.

Harbour has now explained his actions: [More...]

"The pardons were intended to allow them to find gainful employment or acquire professional licenses as well as hunt and vote," Barbour said. "My decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases."

Barbour's statement is quoted at greater length here.

"My decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases," the statement said.
The statement went on to say 13 of the 26 inmates released from custody cost the state so much money due to their medical expenses and can be returned to custody if they commit another crime.

Some of those pardoned received suspended sentences and not full pardons. Barbour's office says 189 of the 215 he pardoned have already been released.

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Miss. Court Blocks Some of Barbour's Pardons | 10 comments (10 topical)

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A question (none / 0) (#1)
by cal1942 on Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 11:29:04 PM EST

So Mississippi's Constitution does not grant the governor plenary power to pardon.

Is that common in other states?

Nine states (none / 0) (#2)
by jbindc on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 06:48:24 AM EST

Do not allow their governor to pardon. The exclusive power to grant pardons rests with a state Board of Pardons and Paroles in Alabama Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, and Utah.


: Thank you n/t (none / 0) (#7)
by cal1942 on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 09:28:24 PM EST

: The Pennsylvania Constitution (none / 0) (#9)
by Peter G on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 11:23:09 PM EST

does not allow the Governor to pardon or commute a sentence without having first received a positive recommendation from the Board of Pardons. Article IV, section 9.

The story on CNN said (none / 0) (#3)
by republicratitarian on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 08:34:15 AM EST

Barbour violated the state's constitution because the pardon requests for many inmates were not published 30 days before they were granted, as required.

Fun to Watch Them Roast Their Own (none / 0) (#4)
by ScottW714 on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 09:27:12 AM EST

It seems that Haley has released some pretty bad guys, convicted murders, just because they were doing work at the governors mansion. The families are outraged. I'm not a law & order guy, but some of his picks seem... dumb to say the least.

Anyways, back to my point, Republicans of course are going bonkers over this. Wasn't Barbour suppose to be a viable candidate. Anyways the law & order folks are going bonkers. I think Barbour just ended his political career, at least as a republican.

: I believe the MS AG is a Democrat (none / 0) (#6)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 04:03:17 PM EST

: And Democrats (none / 0) (#8)
by cal1942 on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 09:29:51 PM EST

At the national level won't take him.

: He has said (none / 0) (#10)
by jbindc on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 07:12:10 AM EST

He doesn't want a further career in politics.
Of course, he's a politician, so if his lips are moving, he's lying, but pardoning violent criminals does seem to be strange.

There is a poll on Fox's website today (none / 0) (#5)
by republicratitarian on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 10:34:46 AM EST

Should a governor have the power to pardon prisoners?

71% said no
20% said yes.

Wow.