The same day that the Supreme Court cleared the way for Governor Gavin Newsom to grant a pardon that might prevent a deportation, the Governor asked for the Supreme Court’s consent to commute the sentences of two more twice-convicted felons. The state constitution requires the court’s approval because of the multiple convictions.
In the past, this Governor made public very little information about his clemency candidates, not even disclosing the reasons for their imprisonments. (See, e.g., here.) Yesterday, however, there was a bit more sunlight. Newsom stated the criminal history of these two felons whose sentences he says he “is contemplating” commuting so as to make them “eligible for . . . earlier parole suitability hearing[s]”:
- Esdvin Flores, who was sentenced to 45 years to life for robbery as a third strike with firearm and prior felony enhancements and who has two prior robbery convictions.
- Cedric Pierce, who was sentence to 40 years to life for robbery as a third strike with firearm and prior felony enhancements and who has prior felony convictions for robbery, attempted robbery, and false imprisonment.
In other clemency news, the Governor last week granted 21 commutations, including two — for Crystal Jones and Luis Velez — that a divided court signed off on at the end of Governor Jerry Brown’s term (here and here).
Related:
Why is secrecy the default on gubernatorial clemency recommendation requests?