by Jim Patrick at Law Enforcemnt Today
Law Enforcement Today has reported several times on Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s mass release of prisoners ostensibly due to “COVID.”
Now, a judge has ordered a pause on Brown’s early release of prisoners, as reported in the Epoch Times. The new order refers to prisoners who committed crimes as juveniles, which grants part of the relief sought in a lawsuit filed against Brown by two district attorneys and four members of homicide victims.
Since March 1, 2020, Brown has granted early release to nearly 1,200 convicted felons, including 10 convicted murderers.
Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Leith ruled earlier this month that Brown unlawfully conferred her clemency powers to the Oregon Parole Board.
“The board lacked delegated authority to hear the parole cases of the offenders at issue,” Leith wrote in his ruling. “It was only the [Governor’s] clemency order that purported to provide that authority.”
Part of the basis for the suit was the fact that Brown had in effect shielded herself from responsibility from accountability for commuting the sentences of inmates convicted of violent crimes, according to Linn County District Attorney Doug Marteeny.
“What the governor attempted to do was commute [sentences] without having the label that she was the one who released them,” he said in a public written statement.
“The judge found that the governor was exercising her authority improperly,” and releasing those convicted of murder, rape, and child sex abuse,” he continued.
Leith ordered the parole board to “refrain from conducting or carrying out he release process,” which was slated to move forward starting this month, the Times said.
“Governor Brown has misapplied her clemency powers since early 2020,” Kevin Mannix, lead attorney for the petitioners, stated in a brief obtained by The Epoch Times. ‘We have a victory for crime victims in that the Board of Parole will not be able to shorten sentences for 250 violent criminals.”
The suit further alleged that Brown had granted clemency to people who had not requested early release through the legal process.
“Convicted criminals must initiate the process to seek forgiveness and state their case by demonstrating remorse, rehabilitation, and a desire and capability to reasonably re-enter society,” the petitioners claimed.
In addition, the petitioners argued that Brown had failed to notify victims or their families and district attorneys of pending releases as required by law. That part of the suit was dismissed.
“We will continue to challenge Gov. Brown’s willingness to ignore the experienced voices of prosecuting attorneys and the anguished cries of crime victims,” said Monique DeSpain, attorney for the petitioners, in an email to The Epoch Times.
A number of surviving family members joined in on the lawsuit, including Randy Tennant, whose mother-in-law was killed by her grandson when he was 17, and Samuel Williams, whose daughter Jessica was stabbed to death, mutilated, and then set on fire by Carl Alsup, then 17, and two others in 2003.
“I am disappointed that the governor is allowed to ignore the voice of crime victims and district attorneys in the clemency process,” Mannix wrote.
The State of Oregon has said it will appeal the judge’s decision.
“The governor continues to believe that executive clemency is…
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