Miss. Supreme Court rules Barbour pardons valid [View all]

[RandySF]

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Thursday that some pardons issued by former Gov. Haley Barbour are valid.

In their 6-3 opinion, the justices wrote "we are compelled to hold that - in each of the cases before us - it fell to the governor alone to decide whether the Constitution's publication requirement was met."

Republican Barbour pardoned 198 people before finishing his second term Jan. 10, including four convicted murderers and a robber who worked as inmate trusties at the Governor's Mansion. Of those pardoned, 10 were in jail at the time.

Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood challenged the pardons. Hood argued before the Supreme Court on Feb. 9 that some pardons didn't meet the requirements of the Mississippi Constitution, which says people seeking pardons must publish notices for 30 days in a newspaper.


http://www.wdam.com/story/17113374/miss-supreme-court-rules-barbour-pardons-valid