By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//December 29, 2022//
By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//December 29, 2022//
Gov. Tony Evers has granted another 171 pardons, bringing his total number of pardons granted to 774.
The Wisconsin Constitution grants the governor the power to pardon individuals convicted of a crime. A pardon is an official act of forgiveness that restores rights lost when someone is convicted of a felony, including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office, and hold certain professional licenses. A pardon does not expunge court records.
Under Executive Order #30 individuals convicted of a Wisconsin felony may apply for a pardon if they completed their sentence at least five years ago and have no pending criminal charges. Individuals currently required to register on the sex offender registry are ineligible for a pardon. Executive Order #130 established an expedited review process for applications that meet stricter criteria, including a greater length of time elapsed since sentence completion and nonviolent nature of the offenses.