California: 79 Pardons!

The Los Angeles Times reports Gov. Jerry Brown has restored the civil rights to 79 felons, many of them "convicted of minor drug crimes decades ago."  The Governor's office also issued a statement saying the pardons were "earned." Indeed:

"Obtaining a pardon is a distinct achievement based upon proof of a productive and law-abiding life following conviction." 

The governor's office "would not immediately provide access to the pardon applications, recommendations of prosecutors and victims' statements." But under a 2011 state law, he is required to "provide a fuller report to the Legislature when it begins regular session."

The Times also reports that Brown "is among California's most pardonable modern governors." From 1975 to 1983, he granted 403 pardons. In 2011, he granted 21 pardons. In the previous seven years, Arnold Schwarzenegger  granted 16 pardons and 10 commutations of sentence. Gray Davis granted none and Ronald Reagan granted 575 pardons. See story here.