Governor's (Gray Davis) broad parole power upheld

Sacramento Bee ^ | 12/17/02 | Claire Cooper

[hoosierskypilot]

SAN FRANCISCO -- California governors have broad power to block parole in murder cases, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday in a victory for Gov. Gray Davis and defeat for the more than 150 men and women whose release from prison he has vetoed. In throwing out the rulings of most lower courts that have considered the issue, the justices, on a 5-2 vote, gave Davis only slightly less sweeping power than he sought.

Davis, who declared a no-parole policy soon after taking office and then allowed parole in just two cases, had said his vetoes were unreviewable except for procedural errors. The justices said courts may also consider the merits.

[hoosierskypilot]

Wonder what the outcome would have been had the gov been a human (i.e., Republican).

[Tacis]

This does not mean that Blackout Davis is any tougher on criminals than a Republican might have been. All Davis was doing here was establishing the rationale for setting his prices to grant paroles. A thousand dollar bid for a parole might be rejected as being to high if the petitioner feels he can get it for nothing at a criminal court or administrative review panel. Now, no matter how high the "fee," the petitioner knows that's the best he's going to get. It is like Willie and pardons. Rich knew that he had to pay what was asked because there was no other game in town.