Law Weblog

Judges may get power to grant royal pardons

Monday 26 October 2009 at 7:53 am | In News | Post Comment

The Government has announced a review into the future handing of applications for royal pardons, which could result in judges being given the power to grant royal pardons for convicted offenders.
Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw called for a consultation after the high profile pardon of Michael Shields and has said it should no longer be the job of a politician to take on the quasi-judicial role.   Shields, who was convicted of attempted murder in Bulgaria in 2005, was pardoned by the justice secretary, Jack Straw.

http://www.justice.gov.uk/latest-updates/royal-prerogative.htm