Writer's Block: Pardon You, Mr. Nixon

[sorrowmonkey]

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I'm not certain there should be any limits on the pardon power. People get all riled up over pardons (and Clinton certainly had some good ones, too. The reality is that the President is charged with enforcing the laws, and sometimes, that means the discretion not to enforce them.

While it is certainly irritating to see the President's cronies get off on tax evasion or insider trading, it is also a useful check on the legislative and judicial aspects of the criminal justice system. The courts have been very effective at nullifying the effectiveness of petit juries, so I think the executive pardon remains the last hope for justice of those wrongfully convicted of a crime.

Comments

[peregrine58.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on Pardoning Power's. I think Ford had no choice but to pardon Nixon. It took all the focus off of the ugly of Watergate and allowed the government to move forward. It probably cost him his next term. That I think is one of those powers that is necessary to the executive branch for that and the reason's you stated above.

with ya

[darthluna.livejournal.com]

I'm basically on board with you. But I also feel there should be certain powers that come with heading a nation and the ability to say "poof, you're innocent" should be one of them. Public outrage and the press provide a basic counter-balance.