Calif. Bill Would Bar Last-Minute Clemency, Pardons

SACRAMENTO (AP) — A state assemblyman is seeking a constitutional amendment that would prohibit a California governor from issuing last-minute pardons and commutations.

The bill by Republican Assemblyman Allan Mansoor of Costa Mesa would prevent the kind of deal Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger extended during his last hours in office to the son of former Assembly speaker Fabian Nunez.

The former Republican governor cut the sentence of 21-year-old Esteban Nunez to even years from 16. Esteban Nunez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon in the stabbing death of a college student in San Diego.

The victim's family says they had no notice about the governor's action. Schwarzenegger later wrote the family an apology for not notifying them sooner.

Mansoor's amendment would require a governor to give interested parties 30 days' notice before granting a pardon, reprieve or commutation.

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