Dictionary of Law
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executive clemency :: legal definition


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 and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
admission against interest :: n. an admission of the truth of a fact by any pers ... earsay. See also: admission hearsay
adverse party :: n. the opposite side in a lawsuit. Sometimes when ... the court rules the will was legal.
amnesty :: n. a blanket abolition of an offense by the govern ... rget the offenses. See also: pardon
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
commutation :: n. the act of reducing a criminal sentence resulti ... See also: executive clemency pardon
contributory negligence :: n. a doctrine of common law that if a person was i ... : comparative negligence negligence
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
domicile :: n. the place where a person has his/her permanent ... where its headquarters is located.
estoppel :: n. a bar or impediment (obstruction) which preclud ... pel equitable estoppel estop laches
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
guarantee :: 1) v. to pledge or agree to be responsible for ano ... as some defect. See also: guarantor
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
indenture :: n. a type of real property deed in which two parti ... bind a person to work for another.
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
pardon :: 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or ... also: amnesty commutation reprieve
party :: n. 1) one of the participants in a lawsuit or othe ... y real party in interest respondent
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
prior(s) :: n. slang for a criminal defendant's previous recor ... es for the third felony conviction.
probation :: n. a chance to remain free (or serve only a short ... See also: attorney-client privilege
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
real party in interest :: n. the person or entity who will benefit from a la ... st is the beneficiary of the trust.
reasonable care :: n. the degree of caution and concern for the safet ... . See also: duty of care negligence
reasonable reliance :: n. particularly in contracts, what a prudent perso ... the following:." See also: contract
receiver :: n. 1) a neutral person (often a professional trust ... owing they were obtained illegally.
self-defense :: n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself ... ndalism. See also: assault homicide
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
sign :: v. 1) to write one's signature on a document, incl ... language. See also: mark subscribe
standard of care :: n. the watchfulness, attention, caution and pruden ... of care foreseeable risk negligence
subpena duces tecum :: : (suh-pea-nah dooh-chess-take-uhm or dooh-kess-ta ... ng a court order. See also: witness
successive sentences :: n. in criminal law, the imposition of the penalty ... uld be 15 years. See also: sentence
unconscionable :: adj. referring to a contract or bargain which is s ... ee also: adhesion contract contract

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - E

earnest payment :: n. a deposit paid to demonstrate commitment and to ... (liquidated) or committed damages.
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
egress :: n. way of departure. A word usually used in conjun ... unction with "access" or "ingress."
EIR :: n. popular acronym for environmental impact report ... e also: environmental impact report
ejectment :: n. a lawsuit brought to remove a party who is occu ... o the property through her parents.
ejusdem generis :: (eh-youse-dem generous) v adj. Latin for "of the s ... t was of land-based transportation.
elder law :: n. a specialty in legal practice, covering estate ... t field. (definition revised: 9/02)
election of remedies :: n. an outmoded requirement that if a plaintiff (pa ... dence has not been fully presented.
election under the will :: n. in those states which have statutes which give ... arries) left to her under his will.
eleemosynary :: (eh-luh-moss-uh-nary) adj. charitable, as applied ... pplied to a purpose or institution.
element :: n. 1) an essential requirement to a cause of actio ... of action crime general plan zoning
emancipation :: n. freeing a minor child from the control of paren ... vorced parent to pay child support.
embezzlement :: n. the crime of stealing the funds or property of ... in trust. See also: embezzler theft
embezzler :: n. a person who commits the crime of embezzlement ... r property of an employer or trust.
emblements :: n. crops to which a tenant who cultivated the land ... ome the property of his/her estate.
emergency :: n. a sudden, unforeseen happening which requires a ... r to protect lives and/or property.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
emolument :: n. salary, wages and benefits paid for employment ... d for employment or an office held.
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
employee :: n. a person who is hired for a wage, salary, fee o ... ondeat superior scope of employment