State Democrats seek changes with pardons
House Democrats say they are introducing legislation that would require a public hearing before a governor could pardon a prisoner convicted of a felony crime.
“It won’t help these folks today, but it will help those in the future who might be affected,” said Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, who sponsored the legislation, at a news conference today.
Several relatives and friends of Tammy Gatlin, including her mother and sister, attended the news conference and spoke out against the practice of pardoning convicts who serve their time as trusties in the Governor’s Mansion.
Tammy Gatlin’s husband, David Gatlin, is among the pardons outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour has granted. David Gatlin had been a trusty at the Governor’s Mansion since 2009.
Clarion Ledger
1/9/11
Magnolia Tribune
