House Democrats: Republicans killing pardon reform efforts

The following is a press release from the Mississippi House Democratic Caucus:

March 8, 2012

Jackson, MS- Today the Mississippi Supreme Court announced that the hundreds of pardons issued by outgoing Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour would not be overturned.  On Tuesday, all measures to reform the pardon system died in their respective committees in the House and Senate.

In response to these events, House Democratic Caucus Leader Bobby Moak (D-Bogue Chitto) issued the following statement:

“This week marked another sad chapter in the Republican leadership’s ongoing failure to fix Mississippi’s pardon system.  The releases earlier this year fly in the face of the justice system and create real public safety concerns for Mississippi families.  Now, Republicans have compounded this problem by killing measures that would add accountability to the process. 

My heart goes out to the victims’ families and I want them to know that we will not rest until we achieve a more just and safe pardon system for Mississippi.”

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