Hawaii: Meddling with Pardon Power?

An editorial in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin calls on the Hawaii state legislature to "stop meddling' with the pardon power. According to the editorial. Gov. Linda Lingle (R) has issued more than 70 pardons since taking office five years ago - a number that is "consistent" with past governors. And, according to the Star-Bulletin, none of the pardon have been "controversial." Nonetheless, the state legislature has approved a bill that would require the judicial branch to review all probation applicants, leaving the Paroling Authority to review only applications from those imprisoned or on parole. The bill would also require the governor to give 30 days of public notice, including the reason(s), before issuing a pardon. See more details here.

Hawaii: Report

According to this article, Hawaii's Republican governor Linda Lingle has pardoned 71 people since taking office in 2002. Lingle granted pardons to only five individuals in 2007, saying that they had "proven their ability to lead law-abiding lives and to be productive members of our community."