Pushing for clemency



Yesterday, a letter that Rachel Barkow and I circulated was sent to the President from an interesting combination of people. You can read the letter here.  Carrie Johnson did a story on it for NPR yesterday morning, too, but I can't find the link.

This project continues, and I have hope that we are making some progress. I'll fill you in as things develop!

Meanwhile, I'm working to reform the somewhat crazy process for clemency that we have here in Minnesota. In short, to get clemency here, you have to personally appear and plead your case (usually without a lawyer) in front of a panel composed of the governor, the attorney general, and the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Jennifer Brooks of the Star-Tribune did a good job describing it here.

With both projects, there are positive signs... it could be a really interesting year.

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