executive clemency

executive clemency
n.
A chief executive’s right to pardon criminals and commute criminal sentences.

The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. . 2008.


executive clemency
The power of a president or governor to pardon a person convicted of a crime or commute (shorten) the sentence to be served.
Category: Criminal Law
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.


executive clemency
n. The power granted to the governor by most state constitutions and vested in the president by the United States Constitution as chief executive officer to pardon or to commute any sentence imposed by a court within that officer's jurisdiction.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary. . 2000.

executive clemency
n.
   the power of a President in federal criminal cases, and the Governor in state convictions, to pardon a person convicted of a crime, commute the sentence (shorten it, often to time already served) or reduce it from death to another lesser sentence. There are many reasons for exercising this power, including real doubts about the guilt of the party, apparent excessive sentence, humanitarian reasons such as illness of an aged inmate, to clear the record of someone who has demonstrated rehabilitation or public service, or because the party is a political or personal friend of the Governor.
   See also: commutation, pardon

Law dictionary. . 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • clemency or executive clemency — Act of grace or mercy by the president or governor to ease the consequences of a criminal act, accusation, or conviction. (Sometimes known as commutation or pardon.) Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations …   Law dictionary

  • executive clemency — The power of the chief executive (i.e. President or a governor) to pardon or commute a criminal sentence as, for example, the power to reduce the death penalty to life imprisonment. Art. II, No. 2, U.S.Const. See also clemency …   Black's law dictionary

  • executive clemency — The power of the chief executive (i.e. President or a governor) to pardon or commute a criminal sentence as, for example, the power to reduce the death penalty to life imprisonment. Art. II, No. 2, U.S.Const. See also clemency …   Black's law dictionary

  • executive clemency — noun the power (usually of a president or governor) to pardon or commute the sentence of someone convicted in that jurisdiction • Hypernyms: ↑office, ↑power …   Useful english dictionary

  • clemency — clem·en·cy / kle mən sē/ n pl cies 1: willingness or ability to moderate the severity of a punishment (as a sentence) 2: an act or instance of mercy, compassion, or forgiveness see also amnesty, commute …   Law dictionary

  • executive — ex·ec·u·tive 1 adj 1: of or relating to the execution or carrying out of laws serving a warrant is an executive function; esp: belonging to the branch of government that is charged with such powers as diplomatic representation, overseeing the… …   Law dictionary

  • executive pardon — An executive act of grace exempting an individual from punishment for a crime he has committed. Such presidential power is authorized by Art. II, No. 2, U.S.Const. Similar powers are afforded to governors by state constitutions. See also… …   Black's law dictionary

  • executive pardon — An executive act of grace exempting an individual from punishment for a crime he has committed. Such presidential power is authorized by Art. II, No. 2, U.S.Const. Similar powers are afforded to governors by state constitutions. See also… …   Black's law dictionary

  • Lewis Libby clemency controversy — The Lewis Libby clemency controversy arose when U.S. President George W. Bush commuted the prison sentence of I. Lewis Scooter Libby, a high ranking official in his administration, on July 2, 2007. [President George W. Bush,… …   Wikipedia

  • Naval Clemency and Parole Board — The Naval Clemency and Parole Board (NC PB) is a board established by the United States Department of the Navy to serve as executive agent for the United States Secretary of the Navy to decide questions of clemency and parole for members of the… …   Wikipedia

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