Pardons: Justice, Mercy, and the Public Interest

This text explores the issues surrounding acts of clemency - what justifies pardoning, who should be pardoned, and the definition of an unforgivable crime. Several historical case studies are taken as examples of the use and misuse of clemency.

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Kathleen Dean Moore begins with a review of the history of thought and practice on the subject of legal pardons, illustrated with a rich and fascinating variety of historical cases. She then addresses many crucial issues surrounding acts of clemency, including what justifies pardoning power, who should be pardoned, and the definition of an unforgivable crime. She carefully analyses the moral justification of pardons, discussing how to distinguish between justifiable, even morally obligatory, cases and unjustifiable abuses of clemency power.