Judicial Restoration of Rights as an Auxiliary to the Pardon Power
FSR, Vol. 33:5, Forthcoming
12 Pages Posted: 11 Jun 2021
Date Written: May 27, 2021
Abstract
This essay outlines the pressing need for a robust use of pardon power to address the cascading consequences of criminal convictions. It argues that a scalable auxiliary to presidential pardon power is a legislative scheme that harnesses the federal court system to conduct individualized reviews and adjudications of petitions for the restoration of rights. In the digital age, where nothing can be truly forgotten, these authoritative judgments of rehabilitation, coupled with clear prohibitions on considering criminal records, are the most effective way to address the profound collateral consequences of criminal convictions.
Keywords: Pardon Power, Restoration of Rights, Collateral Consequences of Criminal Convictions
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