Matter of Application of Wilson (1916) · DecisionDepot

Matter of Application of Wilson

Name: California Superior Court Tentative Rulings
Creator: DecisionDepot
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

California Court of Appeal Feb 16, 1916 No. Crim. No. 342.Published

Before: THE COURT. —

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Holding. The Governor has the constitutional authority to grant a commutation of sentence subject to conditions, and if those conditions are breached, the original sentence remains in full force and may be executed.

Issues

Does the Governor have the constitutional power to impose conditions on a commutation of sentence?
May a prisoner be required to serve the remainder of an original sentence if a condition of commutation is breached?

Disposition. Writ denied.

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“The constitution makes no distinction between the power to grant pardons and commutations of sentence. The rule above stated applies equally to pardons and commutations of sentence.”

Synopsis

APPLICATION originally made to the District Court of Appeal of the Third Appellate District for a Writ of Habeas Corpus.

THE COURT.

It appears from the petition that petitioner was, in the month of June, 1902, convicted of the crime of robbery and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for the term of his natural life, in the state prison at Folsom; that, on March 19, 1909, the Governor of the state commuted the sentence “from the serving of his natural life, to serve 6 years, 9 months and 3 days, or from June 16, 1902, to March 29, 1909”; that the order of commutation of said sentence contains the following provision: “Now, therefore, I, J. N. Gillett, governor of the state of California, ... do hereby commute the sentence of the said Frank S. Wilson . . . provided that if said Frank S. Wilson shall thereafter be convicted of any felony, this commutation shall become void, and in addition to the sentence imposed for such felony, he shall serve the remainder of the sentence cut short by this order.”

By section 1, article VII, of the constitution, “The Governor shall have the .power to grant reprieves, pardons, and commutations of sentence, after conviction, for all offenses except treason and cases of impeachment, upon such conditions and with such restrictions and limitations, as he may think proper. ’ ’ It was held in

Ex parte Marks,

64 Cal. 29, [49 Am. Rep. 684, 28 Pac. 109], that the Governor is authorized to grant pardons upon conditions stated which may be defeated

[703]

by a breach of such conditions. In a note to

State

McIntire,

59 Am. Dec. 566, 572, 576, numerous cases are cited showing that it is well settled that the executive may grant conditions to a pardon. Such conditions as the following are among others which may be imposed: That the prisoner refrain from the use of intoxicating liquors; that he shall use all proper exertions to support his mother and sister; that he shall not be convicted of any offense against the criminal laws of the state. Cases are cited where it was held that if the prisoner fails to perform the condition, the original sentence remains in full force and may be carried into execution".

Matter of Application of Wilson

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Synopsis

THE COURT.

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