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At the Lectern

Governor asks Supreme Court’s permission for three more clemency grants

May 27, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday asked for the Supreme Court’s OK to issue one more pardon and to commute two more sentences.  The court’s recommendations are constitutionally required because the clemency candidates have been “twice convicted of a felony.”

The pardon request is for Eugene Arnold and the commutation requests are for Benjamin Guerra and Anthony Banks.

The court has approved 13 of Newsom’s prior requests (see here) and denied none, which is a considerably better record than for former Governor Jerry Brown, who had the court block 10 intended clemency grants.  Two other Newsom pardon requests are still pending.

Related:

“Sanctions sought against governor over redacted clemency records”

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