Legal Definitions - pardon attorney

A pardon attorney is a lawyer who works for the U.S. Department of Justice. Their primary responsibility is to review and evaluate applications from individuals seeking a federal pardon, commutation of sentence, or other forms of clemency from the President. They meticulously examine each case, gather relevant information, and then determine which applications are strong candidates to be forwarded to the President for a final decision.

Here are a few examples to illustrate the role of a pardon attorney:

• Imagine a person named Maria who was convicted of a non-violent federal offense 15 years ago. She served her time, has since earned a master's degree, volunteers extensively in her community, and wants to apply for a federal pardon to remove the stigma and open up new professional opportunities. Maria would submit her application to the Office of the Pardon Attorney. A pardon attorney would then meticulously review her entire case, including her original conviction, her post-release conduct, and her reasons for seeking a pardon. If the attorney finds her case meritorious and believes she has demonstrated significant rehabilitation, they would recommend her application to the President for a final decision.

• Consider John, who is currently serving a long federal sentence for a drug conspiracy conviction from 20 years ago. His family believes the sentence was unduly harsh by today's standards and that John has been a model inmate, participating in educational programs and showing genuine remorse. They apply for a commutation of sentence on his behalf. The application for commutation would be directed to the pardon attorney. This attorney would investigate John's original conviction, his behavior while incarcerated, and the arguments presented by his family. If the pardon attorney determines that a commutation is warranted based on the evidence of rehabilitation and changed sentencing philosophies, they would forward their recommendation to the President for consideration.

• Suppose Sarah was convicted of federal tax fraud 25 years ago. She completed her sentence, paid all restitution, and has lived an exemplary life since. She now wishes to have her federal voting rights fully restored and to be eligible for certain federal licenses that her conviction currently prevents her from obtaining. She applies for a pardon to achieve this. Sarah's application for a pardon would be reviewed by a pardon attorney. The attorney would examine the details of her past conviction, her long history of good conduct, and the specific rights she seeks to regain. If the attorney concludes that Sarah has fully atoned for her past actions and deserves the restoration of her rights, they would prepare a recommendation for the President to consider granting her a pardon.