The Supreme Court today cleared the way for Governor Gavin Newsom to commute the sentence of Fanon Figgers, who is serving a 210-years-to-life term for multiple counts of robbery and false imprisonment by violence as a third strike with firearm enhancements.  The court’s approval is constitutionally required because Figgers has been convicted of multiple felonies.

The court has ruled on 12 of Governor Newsom’s clemency recommendation requests and, unlike with Governor Jerry Brown, has approved them all.  One more is pending — Newsom is seeking to pardon Monsuru Tijani for four different felony convictions over a 13-year period ending in 1999.  Tijani might have reason to be anxious.

Newsom submitted the request for Tijani in October.  Another one submitted the same day was approved three weeks ago and three more that were submitted 12 days after Tijani’s — including the one for Figgers — have already been approved.  The delay on the Tijani request might be of no significance, but it could indicate that one or more justices have concerns.

[March 29 update:  Governor Newsom commuted Figgers’s sentence on March 27, along with 25 other clemency grants.]