Of Pardons, Politics and Collar Buttons: Reflections on the President's Duty to be Merciful

Authors

Margaret Colgate Love

Keywords

pardons, ethics, morality, justice, political

Abstract

A discussion of the President's ability to grant Federal Pardons, and the moral and political factors which influence the exercise of that power. The article proposes that the President has a duty to pardon, not so much as to do justice in particular cases, but to be merciful as a more general obligation of office.

Recommended Citation

Margaret Colgate Love, Of Pardons, Politics and Collar Buttons: Reflections on the President's Duty to be Merciful, 27 Fordham Urb. L.J. 1483 (2000).
Available at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/ulj/vol27/iss5/32