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New Federal Sentencing Reporter issue considers “After Trump: The Future of the President’s Pardon Power”

By Douglas Berman

M_fsr.2021.33.5.coverIt strikes me as a great bit of great timing, as we head into a weekend celebrating our great nation’s declaration of independence from a monarchy, that the new issue of the Federal Sentencing Reporter focused on the pardon power in the US Constitution is just now available online.  It is often said that the presidential pardon authority in Article II section 2 of the Constitution is the most “kingly” power given to our chief executive, and former Prez Donald Trump certainly seemed at times to bring a “mad King George” quality to his activities in this arena.  Notably, as explained in the intro to this June 2021 issue of FSR, the editors had some history and some expert help putting together a new issue on this always timely topic:

This Issue of the Federal Sentencing Reporter shines a light on the state of clemency today, with an emphasis on the federal system and events of the Trump administration.  This Issue thus continues an FSR tradition of exploring federal clemency practices under each president, starting in 2001 after President Bill Clinton created controversies with final-day pardons.  Over the last twenty years, an array of commentators have analyzed the actions (and inactions) of four presidents, each of whom embraced quite different goals, perspectives, and strategies.  In addition to bringing thoughtful new perspectives to recent events, the articles assembled today by guest editor Margaret Love, the indefatigable advocate, scholar, and former Pardon Attorney, offer a roadmap to, in her words, “restore legitimacy to the pardon power and its usefulness to the presidency.”  The editors of FSR are — once again — deeply grateful for Ms. Love’s efforts and expertise.

Here are the great new original articles in this great new FSR issue: