by Bob Walsh
Pardons can be interesting. There can be unexpected hitches in what a person would think would be a sure thing. I remember YEARS ago when a new law was passed giving the Governor the authority to overrule the Adult Authority on some pardons. I had the honor and privilege of delivering the first bad news to a DVI inmate on this issue. I went to the appropriate cell, a two man cell in Gen Pop, and had the door opened. I asked one of the occupants, "Are you Smith A-12345." (I don't remember the real name and number after all these years.) He said, "Yes." I said, "Sorry dude, the Governor jerked your parole. You ain't going home, at least not real soon." I then handed him the official notice, closed the door and left. He looked deeply unhappy.
This time it is happening from the other direction. About a week or so ago the California Supreme Court denied executive clemency, a pardon, that Jerry had issued for a multiple murderer. The approval of the court is required for pardons for multiple felonies. That is the first time that had happened in about 90 years. They just did it again, six more times.
They denied the parole of Kenny Lee, who robbed and murdered a cab driver in 1992. He was sentenced to LWOP.
They also burned Huan Nguyen, convicted of murder in 1994, Joe Hernandez, convicted of two murders in 1993 and Howard Ford, who committed one murder in 1980.
They also disappointed Richard Barnfield, who committed an in-custody murder while doing time for robbery and John Johnson, for a vehicular manslaughter while fleeing the cops in 1989.
Still, Moonbeam has issued more pardons and commutations than any of his eight most recent predecessors. I guess he is having some buyers remorse after signing some very tough sentencing laws during his first stint as governor about a million years ago. Still, what is important is that he showed how much he FEELS about it. That's what's important, isn't it?
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