High court: Governor wrongly revoked commutation

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAVID EGGERT AND COREY WILLIAMS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned one of Jennifer Granholm’s last acts as governor and gave an inmate an opportunity for release after 25 years in prison.

The court ruled 6-0 that Granholm exceeded her constitutional authority in 2010 when she first commuted the life sentence of Matthew Makowski, then changed her mind when relatives of a murder victim complained.

It’s an unprecedented case in Michigan. Lower courts let Granholm’s decision stand, but the Supreme Court said she went too far.

“The language of the (state) Constitution confers only the power to grant commutations. The fact that the Constitution specifically provides that the Governor may grant a commutation implies that the Governor’s power is limited only to that ability,” Justice Michael Cavanagh wrote for the majority.

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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/06/03/high_court_governor_wrongly_revoked_commutation/