Free Republic

Congress can pass legislation giving judges more discretion in the sentencing of prisoners, but President Obama “also has the ability to take executive action” to commute the sentences of “low-level” drug offenders—and that’s just what he plans to do, Deputy Attorney General James Cole told the New York State Bar Association annual meeting on Thursday. “A little over a month ago, the President commuted the sentences of eight men and women who were sentenced under severe—and out of date—mandatory minimum sentencing laws,” Cole said. …

President Obama on Thursday commuted the prison sentences for eight people convicted of crack cocaine offenses and pardoned 13 others, surpassing in the fifth year of his presidency all the acts of clemency from his entire first term. “I am commuting the prison terms of eight men and women who were sentenced under an unfair system,” Mr. Obama said in a statement. “Commuting the sentences of these eight Americans is an important step toward restoring fundamental ideals of justice and fairness.” [Snip] “We are excited for the families of those who were granted commutations today, and we are glad that...

A condemned Cleveland killer moved one step closer to execution Tuesday despite a rare plea for mercy from the prosecutor overseeing his case and support from nearly half of a board that previously voted unanimously against him. The Ohio Parole Board voted 6-4 to turn down a request for clemency for death row inmate Billy Slagle, sentenced to die for stabbing a neighbor 17 times almost three decades ago. The entire board ruled against clemency two years ago for Slagle, but that was before the election of new Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty and a change in his office’s approach...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indiana woman put on death row at age 16 for killing an elderly Bible school teacher is scheduled to be released Monday after serving a prison term that was shortened after the state Supreme Court intervened. Paula Cooper's death sentence at such a young age sparked international protests and a plea for clemency from Pope John Paul II. Now 43 years old, Cooper is being given a second chance at her life. Cooper was 15 when she and three other teenage girls showed up at Ruth Pelke's house on May 14, 1985, with plans of robbing...

Autumn Carter, a Mansfield, Ohio girl, was raped and killed in 1998. She was six-months old (that’s right). Her convicted killer, Steven Smith, has a May 1 date with the executioner. Yesterday, he appeared before the Ohio Parole Board, where he pleaded for mercy. Smith, 31 years old at the time he took baby Autumn’s life, has not repented his evil. He says his life should be spared because he really didn’t mean to kill the infant. He just wanted to have sex with her. The convicted killer’s public defenders, Joseph Wilhelm and Tyson Fleming, had his back yesterday at...

The governor on Monday sidestepped a decision about whether a condemned inmate was too fat to be humanely executed by sparing the prisoner on the grounds that he had poor legal representation. Gov. John Kasich's decision to grant clemency to Ronald Post mirrored the recommendation of mercy by the state parole board, which said it didn't doubt Post's guilt but said there were too many problems with how he was represented 30 years ago. Post, who weighs 450 pounds, never raised the issue of his size with the board. And Kasich, who commuted Post's sentence to life with no chance...

Georgia inmate Troy Davis's last-ditch request for a lie detector test to try to prove his innocence ahead of tonight's planned execution has been denied by Georgia Department of Corrections. Defence lawyer Stephen Marsh said he had hoped the polygraph would convince the state pardons board to reconsider a decision against clemency, which was rejected yesterday. Davis, 42, is scheduled to die at 7pm tonight. It is the fourth time in four years that Davis' execution has been scheduled by Georgia officials.

Georgia inmate Troy Davis's last-ditch request for a lie detector test to try to prove his innocence ahead of tonight's planned execution has been denied by Georgia Department of Corrections. Defence lawyer Stephen Marsh said he had hoped the polygraph would convince the state pardons board to reconsider a decision against clemency, which was rejected yesterday. Davis, 42, is scheduled to die at 7pm tonight. It is the fourth time in four years that Davis' execution has been scheduled by Georgia officials.

As the calls for clemency for Jonathan Pollard continue to intensify, Henry A. Kissinger, an elder statesman, well-respected diplomat, and experienced member of the United States intelligence community, has become the latest American governmental leader to issue a public call for Pollard’s release. Pollard has spent more than 25 years languishing in a federal prison for passing classified information to Israel, an ally of the United States. Kissinger, who served as United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, sent a letter to President Obama requesting that he commute Pollard’s sentence to...

This is so sad. It calls for letters and prayers: "We have no idea why they denied Michael’s clemency request and can only surmise that the Secretary of the Army desires Michael to spend a substantial amount of time in prison."

Army asks for mercy from clemency callers- Lakin supporters flood phone lines; need to redirect messages ### Army public affairs officer Lt. Col. Rob Manning today asked WND readers appealing for clemency for imprisoned "birther" Dr. Terrence Lakin to send their pleas to Lakin's defense counsel, not to the officer with authority to free Lakin, Maj. Gen. Karl Horst. "We're getting a lot of calls," said Manning, the director of public affairs for the Joint Force Headquarters, National Capital Region. Manning emphasized clemency requests should be sent to Maj. Matthew Kemkes, Lakin's defense counsel. Kemkes' e-mail address is matthewkemkes@us.army.mil. *snip*...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- In a rare gesture, Gov. Ted Strickland on Friday spared an inmate who was scheduled to be executed next week, citing court decisions that questioned the death sentence and problems with trial testimony. Strickland announced he was granting clemency to Richard Nields, who strangled his girlfriend in 1997 during an argument in suburban Cincinnati. Strickland, a Democrat, said he made the decision after reviewing Nields' case.....

Is this Mike Huckabee attempting to position himself as the voice of GOP reason heading in to 2012, or merely have his political cake and eat it too? Huckabee appeared on Rosie O’Donnell’s Sirius-XM radio show over the weekend and perhaps not surprisingly talk turned to gay marriage and same sex adoption. Huckabee, a former pastor, is against gay marriage, though gently so…or at least that is what he’d have us believe if this exchange is any measure. During the appearance, Huckabee fended off criticisms from O’Donnell telling her that “I have great respect for you. I respect your choices....

February 19, 2010 Michelle Obama Tells Huckabee Home Is 'News-Free Zone' FOXNews.com Michelle Obama told Fox News host Mike Huckabee that she's sure to watch Fox News -- a target of criticism from her husband in the past -- this weekend to catch their interview. First lady Michelle Obama said she tries to stay away from news because she wants to formulate her own opinions based on her experiences. But Obama told Fox News host Mike Huckabee that she's sure this weekend to watch Fox News, a target of criticism from her husband in the past -- Huckabee's interview with...

Washington Whispers reports First Lady Michelle Obama will be interviewed on Fox News Channel this weekend on Mike Huckabee's show. The two will talk about Mrs. Obama's anti-obesity campaign.

Amber Ettinger is the Obama Girl, made famous from her self-styled YouTube sensation video that depicted her mad crush on then-presidential candidate Barak Obama. After his first year in office, she made a new splash by publicly discussing her disappointment in his presidency. She was a guest on this show a couple of weeks ago, but her appearance sparked a very strong and mostly critical reaction. Much of the heat was directed at me for what the viewers perceived as abandonment of my Christian principles. I don't hide the fact that I am a Jesus person -- a true believer...

If it weren't for bad luck, Mike Huckabee would have no luck at all. Of all the deranged criminals in the country, it was Maurice Clemmons -- granted clemency by then-Gov. Huckabee of Arkansas almost a decade ago -- who recently murdered four police officers in Washington state. Seldom has an act of mercy been more publicly or horribly betrayed. Some of Huckabee's potential rivals for the 2012 Republican nomination responded, not merely by criticizing this specific act of clemency but by rejecting the very idea. "In Minnesota," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty, "I don't think I've ever voted for clemency."...

The nation was stunned by the senseless and savage cold-blooded murders of four young police officers in Lakewood, Wash., over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Whenever a police officer or soldier is killed, the loss is even more profound, for they are the ones who stand between our way of life and total anarchy. Nine years ago, the name Maurice Clemmons crossed my desk. I commuted his sentence from 108 years to 47 years. I take full responsibility for my actions of nine years ago. I acted on the facts presented to me in 2000. If I could have possibly known...

Here is video of former Arkansas Mike Huckabee defending his decision to grant clemency to Maurice Clemmons in 2000. Clemmons killed four police officers in the Tacoma, Washington area last weekend, and was subsequently shot and killed by police as they tried to apprehend him. Huckabee said Clemmons had committed robbery and burglary as a 16 year-old, and received a sentence of 108 years. After serving 11 years, Huckabee got the file and decided to commute the sentence to 47 years, which made him parole eligible. The parole board then let him go. Huckabee said if he had that file...

State of ArkansasExecutive Department PROCOLAMAION TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.....GREETINGS WHEREAS, Maurice Clemmons, ADC# 92616, has applied for executive clemency, specifically a commutation; and WHEREAS, Maurice Clemmons ADC# 92616 was convicted in the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Arkansas on November 15, 1989, of aggravated robbery (Class Y felony) and theft of property (Class C felony) (CR-89-1357);and WHEREAS, Maurie Clemmons, ADC# 92616, was convicted in the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Arkansas, on February 23, 1990, of burglary (Class B felony) and theft of property (Class B felony) (CR-89-1624); and WHEREAS, Maurice Clemmons, ADC # 92616, was...