January 11th, 2012
07:40 PM ET

Mississippi judge blocks release of pardoned prisoners

A Mississippi judge has issued a temporary injunction that forbids the release of pardoned prisoners, a move that comes after outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned 199 people.

Of the 199 people that Barbour pardoned on his way out of office, 14 were convicted murderers. Several convicted murderers have already been released.

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Filed under: Crime • Mississippi
soundoff (77 Responses)
  1. windycitybill

    Good for this judge, that gov was wrong to do what he did.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:46 pm | Report abuse |
    • BHH

      Sometimes something is so OBVIOUSLY wrong that people who would ordinarily look the other way will not.

      January 11, 2012 at 7:53 pm | Report abuse |
  2. alex

    Thank god the judge as some sense and a brain! convicted murders should NEVER be released early. They need to pay for their crimes for killing another human. Shame on that Governor!

    January 11, 2012 at 7:46 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Pwilson

    Cool. Finally a Judge with a pair. Good job Judge.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:47 pm | Report abuse |
  4. David

    Not sure how this is legal since a governors power to pardon is absolute unless there is some kind of possible CRIMINAL corruption charge coming or ongoing investigating about the governor selling pardons, although I'm not sure that is even illegal.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:47 pm | Report abuse |
    • Gracie

      tell this to the families of the victims. I cant believe you would even condone letting a convicted murder be pardoned.

      January 11, 2012 at 7:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • Chris

      He isn't condoning it, Gracie, but he is telling the truth. Short of criminal charges against the former governor nothing can be done to block his pardoning power.

      January 11, 2012 at 8:04 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Dom

    The judge deserves some recognition here, put his name out there so we can have an example of an official who actually considers the law abiding citizens over murderers and rapists.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:47 pm | Report abuse |
    • zane

      The judge is actually breaking state law by doing this. The Governor holds the absolute power to pardon who he wishes.

      January 11, 2012 at 7:49 pm | Report abuse |
    • Gracie

      tell that to the families of the victims these men killed.

      January 11, 2012 at 7:52 pm | Report abuse |
    • SJMom

      Come to think of it...what a stupid law - why should the governor have that ability? It's ridiculous and a good example of a law that needs to be changed. There is NO good reason for one untrained individual to have the ability to overturn a jury or a qualified judge.

      January 11, 2012 at 7:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • Chris

      Unless the judge has a legal reason for doing so, it might be the right thing but it will get him or her kicked out.

      January 11, 2012 at 7:55 pm | Report abuse |
  6. zane

    The governor has the final say when it comes to this. The courts have no rights to over turn his decisions or at the stage we are at now, blocking this order from happening.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:48 pm | Report abuse |
    • Gracie

      and is why gov's should not have this ability to begin with.

      January 11, 2012 at 7:52 pm | Report abuse |
    • Chris

      Unless the governor is under investigation for corruption and the like, in which case...

      January 11, 2012 at 7:56 pm | Report abuse |
  7. JR

    Gov. Haley has lost his mind. What the heck did you think Gov before you made this foolish decision. If someone in your own family was murdered by one of these convicted felons I am sure you would have not made such a immature decision. This Gov should be fired.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:48 pm | Report abuse |
    • zane

      Fired from what? He left office.

      January 11, 2012 at 7:50 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Prince zayn

    Thank god

    January 11, 2012 at 7:49 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Marine52187

    Great news.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:49 pm | Report abuse |
  10. It Matters

    The really need to change the law in many states (all?) that gives a Governor the power to pardon. Maybe at least limit the power to not allow convicted murders. It's just wrong that one person has the power to overturn a conviction that was handed down from a jury.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:50 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jon

      ALL power to pardon needs to be removed. Governors as well as Presidents, should not have the right to override the work of police, investigators and the judicial system just because someone writes them a nice letter from behind bars!

      This is absolute lunacy!!

      January 11, 2012 at 7:59 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Santa Claus + Thomas Paine

    Finally, the rule of law has prevailed in some way.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:50 pm | Report abuse |
  12. about time

    About time someone stopped this wack job right wing puss bucket from sending more of his hit squad out onto the skreets

    January 11, 2012 at 7:50 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Gracie

    EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!! Murders should NEVER be pardoned.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:51 pm | Report abuse |
  14. bobcat (in a hat)©

    Good. Now hold them at least long enough to investgate why Barbour would do something like this in the first place.

    January 11, 2012 at 7:53 pm | Report abuse |
  15. magneticink

    ...here comes the judge...

    January 11, 2012 at 7:53 pm | Report abuse |
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