Grossman, Ex Parte 267 U.S. 87 (1925)

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GROSSMAN, EX PARTE 267 U.S. 87 (1925)

This opinion, elucidating the scope of the pardoning power, declared executive discretion absolute in the matter. The President had commuted Grossman's sentence, but a court ordered him reimprisoned to serve a sentence for contempt. The Supreme Court, recurring to history, rejected arguments that extension of the pardoning power to criminal contempts would violate judicial independence or the separation of powers : "Whoever is to make [the pardoning power] useful must have full discretion to exercise it."

David Gordon
(1986)

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