Dictionary of Law
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pardon :: legal definition


Pardon - 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or President to forgive a person convicted of a crime, thus removing any remaining penalties or punishments and preventing any new prosecution of the person for the crime for which the pardon was given. A pardon strikes the conviction from the books as if it had never occurred, and the convicted person is treated as innocent. Sometimes pardons are given to an older rehabilitated person long after the sentence has been served to clear his/her record. However, a pardon can also terminate a sentence and free a prisoner when the chief executive is convinced there is doubt about the guilt or fairness of the trial, the party is rehabilitated and has performed worthy public service, or there are humanitarian rea-sons such as terminal illness. The most famous American pardon was the blanket pardon given by President Gerald Ford to ex-President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Nixon's resignation; that pardon closed the door to any future prosecu- tion against Nixon for any crime before the pardon. A pardon is distinguished from "a commutation of sentence" which cuts short the term; "a reprieve," which is a temporary halt to punishment, particularly the death penalty, pend- ing appeal or determination of whether the penalty should be reduced; "amnesty," which is a blanket "forgetting" of possible criminal charges due to a change in public circumstances (such as the end of a war or the draft system); or a "reduction in sentence," which shortens a sentence and can be granted by a judge or an executive.

See also: amnesty commutation reprieve and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
amnesty :: n. a blanket abolition of an offense by the govern ... rget the offenses. See also: pardon
apparent authority :: n. the appearance of being the agent of another (e ... e also: agency ostensible authority
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
commutation :: n. the act of reducing a criminal sentence resulti ... See also: executive clemency pardon
concurrent sentences :: n. sentences for more than one crime which are to ... ith the longest period controlling.
conflict of interest :: n. a situation in which a person has a duty to mor ... a position adverse to the customer.
constructive notice :: n. a fiction that a person got notice even though ... personally. See also: constructive
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
crime :: n. a violation of a law in which there is injury t ... drugs. See also: felony misdemeanor
criminal law :: n. those statutes dealing with crimes against the ... See also: crime felony misdemeanor
cruel and unusual punishment :: n. governmental penalties against convicted crimin ... opted. See also: capital punishment
ex post facto :: adj. Latin for "after the fact," which refers to l ... ted before the new law was adopted.
executive clemency :: n. the power of a President in federal criminal ca ... ernor. See also: commutation pardon
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
fair comment :: n. a statement of opinion (no matter how ludicrous ... amation libel public figure slander
false arrest :: n. physically detaining someone without the legal ... sment. See also: false imprisonment
felony :: n. 1) a crime sufficiently serious to be punishabl ... ion. See also: misdemeanor sentence
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
gag order :: n. a judge's order prohibiting the attorneys and t ... st day in office, January 22, 1993.
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy
invitee :: n. a person who comes onto another's property, pre ... ail employees. See also: negligence
jurat :: (jur-at) n. Latin for "been sworn," the portion of ... wledgment declaration notary public
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
misdemeanor :: n. a lesser crime punishable by a fine and/or coun ... tion are felonies. See also: felony
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
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
notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary.
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
officer :: n. 1) a high-level management official of a corpor ... deputy sheriff or federal marshal.
own recognizance :: (O.R.) n. the basis for a judge allowing a person ... n recognizance. See also: bail O.R.
plea bargain :: n. in criminal procedure, a negotiation between th ... the ban. See also: cop a plea plea
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
principal :: n. 1) main person in a business. 2) employer, the ... ry agency agent respondeat superior
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
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
property :: n. anything that is owned by a person or entity. P ... rty real property separate property
qui tam action :: : (kwee tam) n. from Latin for "who as well," a la ... technical violations and/or errors.
reprieve :: n. a temporary delay in imposition of the death pe ... commutation of sentence or pardon.
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
successive sentences :: n. in criminal law, the imposition of the penalty ... uld be 15 years. See also: sentence
theft :: n. the generic term for all crimes in which a pers ... rglary embezzlement larceny robbery
trust :: n. an entity created to hold assets for the benefi ... testamentary trust trustee trustor
vehicular manslaughter :: n. the crime of causing the death of a human being ... gence manslaughter reckless driving
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
wrongful termination :: n. a right of an employee to sue his/her employer ... ing an employee's grounds for suit.

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 - P

paid into court :: adj. referring to money deposited with the clerk o ... differences. See also: interpleader
pain and suffering :: n. the physical and mental distress suffered from ... l damages special damages suffering
palimony :: n. a substitute for alimony in cases in which the ... the relationship. See also: alimony
pander :: 1) v. to solicit customers for a prostitute. 2) n. ... ons or favors. See also: prostitute
panderer :: n. 1) a person who panders or solicits for a prost ... special interests. See also: pander
panel :: n. the list of people selected to appear for jury ... or jury duty. See also: jury venire
paper hanger :: n. slang for a person who criminally writes and ca ... ey in them. See also: forgery fraud
par :: n. 1) an equal level. 2) the face value of a stock ... common stock preferred stock stock
paralegal :: n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiri ... h less than that for the attorneys.
paramount title :: n. a right to real property which prevails over an ... n's claim of title. See also: title
parcel :: n. a defined piece of real estate, usually resulti ... See also: real estate real property
pardon :: 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or ... also: amnesty commutation reprieve
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
parent :: n. the lawful and natural father or mother of a pe ... natural parent. See also: adoption
parental neglect :: n. a crime consisting of acts or omissions of a pa ... usive or sexually predatory person.
pari delicto :: adj. equal fault. See also: in pari delicto ... al fault. See also: in pari delicto
parish :: n. 1) a geographic area served by a church (partic ... overnmental equivalent of a county.
parody :: n. the humorous use of an existing song, play, or ... l significance. See also: copyright
parol :: adj. oral. See also: parol evidence rule ... oral. See also: parol evidence rule
parol evidence rule :: n. if there is evidence in writing (such as a sign ... or contradict the written document.