Robertson Law is pleased to announce that on June 14, 2019, attorney Ryan Robertson appeared before the Washington Clemency & Pardons Board and secured unanimous votes for two clients seeking a governor's pardon. These hearings can be seen here.  Ryan's arguments begin at the start of this video for our first client, and at 2:42:00 for our second client.

The Washington Constitution grants the Governor the power to pardon any crime. Typically, pardons may only be sought after all other legal options to clear a case have been extinguished; such as appeals and vacating conviction records. Our State Legislature created the Clemency & Pardons Board to assist the Governor's office by evaluating cases to determine whether “extraordinary circumstances” exist to merit a pardon. The board meets four times a year to hear only a select few petitions. While the board may recommend a person receives a pardon, the Governor makes the final decision.

We are very excited for our clients. They are truly remarkable people trying to make a positive impact in their communities. We sincerely hope Governor Inslee will accept the unanimous recommendations made by the board and grant the pardons.

If you have any questions about the pardon process in Washington State, please review our website and feel free to contact our office.