Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 2010 )

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
GREG ABBOTT
January 7, 2010
The Honorable Rodney Ellis Opinion No. GA-0754
Chair, Committee on Government Organization
Texas State Senate Re: Authority of the Governor to grant a
Post Office Box 12068 posthumous pardon (RQ-0810-GA)
Austin, Texas 78711-2068
Dear Senator Ellis:
You ask about the power of the Governor to grant posthumous pardons and related questions
regarding the binding authority of attorney general opinions, the legal procedures for challenging a
pardon, and the authority of the Board of Pardons and Paroles (the "Board,,).l Based on a previous
attorney general opinion, you tell us the Governor believes that he cannot grant a posthumous pardon
without a constitutional amendment. Request Letter at 1-2. You therefore ask about his authority
to do so.
The Texas Constitution authorizes the Governor to issue pardons in specific circumstances:
In all criminal cases, except treason and impeachment, the
Governor shall have power, after conviction, on the written signed
recommendation and advice of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, or
a majority thereof, to grant reprieves and commutations of
punishment and pardons ....
TEx. CONST. art. IV, § II(b); see also TEx. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 48.01 (Vernon 2006).2
Pursuant to this provision, Texas courts have stated that "[t]he Constitution ofthis state granting [the
pardon] power to the Governor, it is for him alone to exercise without restraint or restriction from
any source, other than the sovereigns ofthe state who wrote and adopted the Constitution." Ex parte
Rice, 162 S.W. 891,900 (Tex. Crim. App. 1913).
lRequest Letter at 4 (available at http://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov).
2Article 48.01 of the Code of Criminal Procedure mirrors the language in article IV, section 11(b) of the Texas
Constitution: "In all criminal cases, except treason and impeachment, the Governor shall have power, after conviction,
on the written signed recommendation and advice of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, or a majority thereof, to grant
reprieves and commutations of punishment and pardons ...." TEX. CODE CRIM. PROe. ANN. art. 48.01 (Vernon 2006).
The Honorable Rodney Ellis - Page 2 (GA-0754)
Under this constitutional provision, the Governor's power is limited by requiring prior
recommendation of the Board; however, he is otherwise entitled to grant pardons after a conviction
in "all criminal cases, except treason and impeachment." TEx. CONST. art. IV, § 11(b) (emphasis
added); see State ex rei. Smith v. Blackwell, 500 S.W.2d 97,100 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973) (discussing
the 1936 constitutional amendment that requires the Governor to act only upon the Board's
recommendation). When interpreting the Texas Constitution, we presume its language was carefully
selected, construe its words as they are generally understood, and "rely heavily on the plain language
of the Constitution's literal text." Spradlin v. Jim Walter Homes, Inc., 34 S.W.3d 578, 580 (Tex.
2000). The plain language of the constitution does not expressly address whether the Governor may
issue posthumous pardons. However, because the constitution has given the Governor pardon power
in all criminal cases except treason and impeachment and has not otherwise limited his authority to
grant posthumous pardons, it could be interpreted as implicitly authorizing him to grant posthumous
pardons in criminal cases, so long as all constitutional requirements are met. See TEx. CONST. art.
IV,§ll.
Furthermore, the modem development of United States Supreme Court precedent supports
the Governor's authority to issue posthumous pardons. As you recognize, Attorney General Opinion
C-4 71, issued in 1965, concluded otherwise. Although no Texas cases had addressed the authority
of the Governor to grant posthumous pardons, that opinion concluded that because the deceased was
unable to accept the pardon, the Governor did not have authority to grant it. Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. No.
C-471 (1965) at 1. The case law on which that opinion relied did not address the Governor's pardon
authority but instead addressed the common-law requirement that a pardon be accepted in order to
be valid. See, e.g., Hunnicutt v. State, 18 Tex. Ct. App. 498, 517, 520, 1885 WL 6857 (Tex. Ct.
App. 1885). This acceptance requirement stemmed from early United States Supreme Court
common law stating that "[a] pardon is a deed, to the validity of which, delivery is essential, and
delivery is not complete, without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is
tendered; and if it be rejected, we have discovered no power in a court to force it on him." United
States v. Wilson, 32 U.S. 150,161 (1833). Texas courts thereafter adopted the acceptance doctrine,
recognizing that the power of the Governor, "under the State Constitution, to pardon offenses, is of
the same general nature as that conferred upon the President of the United States." See Hunnicutt,
18 Tex. Ct. App. at 517,520. However, the United States Supreme Court has since recognized that
''the requirement of consent [to a pardon] was a legal fiction at best" and has generally abandoned
the acceptance doctrine since adopting it in 1833. Schick v. Reed, 419 U.S. 256, 261 (1974). In
doing so, it has recognized that it is the public welfare, not the consent of the grantee, that should
be the basis for issuing a pardon:
When granted [a pardon] is the determination of the ultimate
authority that the public welfare will be better served by inflicting less
than what the judgment fixed. Just as the original punishment would
be imposed without regard to the prisoner's consent and in the teeth
of his will, whether he liked it or not, the public welfare, not his
consent determines what shall be done.
Biddle v. Perovich, 274 U.S. 480,486 (1927) (citation omitted).
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No Texas court has expressly rejected the idea that acceptance is necessary in order for a
pardon to be valid; however, the Texas cases have generally applied the acceptance requirement to
situations involving conditional pardons. See, e.g., Ex parte Davenport, 7 S.W.2d 589,591 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1927) ("It is essential to the validity of a conditional pardon that it be accepted by the
person in whose favor it is issued."); Ex parte Frazier, 239 S.W. 972, 973 (Tex. Crim. App. 1922)
(upholding Governor's revocation of a conditional pardon). While there may exist a need for
acceptance when conditions are placed on the pardoned recipient, there does not appear to be a need
for acceptance if no such conditions are present, such as in the instance of a posthumous pardon. 3
See Wilson, 32 U.S. at 161 ("A pardon may be conditional; and the condition may be more
objectionable than the punishment inflicted by the judgment. "); see also Biddle, 274 U.S. at 486-87
("So far as a pardon legitimately cuts down a penalty, ... the convict's consent is not required.").
Given the shift in United States Supreme Court precedent that formed the basis of the prior Texas
decisions, it is possible that, were a Texas court to decide the issue today, it would reject the need
for acceptance of an unconditional pardon as the United States Supreme Court has done.
It is also worth noting that legislation recently enacted by the Texas Legislature appears to
recognize the shift in United States Supreme Court precedent. Amendments made to section
103.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code during the eighty-first legislative session
allow deceased persons, "including a person who received a posthumous pardon," to receive
compensation for wrongful imprisonment if certain conditions are met. TEx. CIY. PRAC. & REM.
CODE ANN. § 103.001(a), (c) (Vernon Supp. 2009). Thus, given no express limitation in the
constitution for a posthumous pardon, the shift in United States Supreme Court precedent away from
the acceptance doctrine, and the recent legislative changes recognizing the Governor's authority to
grant a posthumous pardon, we believe a court would likely conclude that the Governor may grant
such a pardon without a constitutional amendment, assuming all other constitutional requirements
are met. In doing so, it would overrule Attorney General Opinion C-471.
Your second question asks whether the prior attorney general opinion concluding that the
Governor did not have authority to issue a posthumous pardon was "legally binding on the governor
on this issue." Request Letter at 4. While they are persuasive authority, attorney general opinions
are not binding. Holmes v. Morales, 924 S.W.2d 920, 924 (Tex. 1996). However, both courts and
state officials often use them for guidance on specific legal issues, especially when there is otherwise
limited authority addressing an issue. S. Tex. Coli. ofLaw v. Tex. Higher Educ. Coordinating Bd,
40 S.W.3d 130, 137 n.l (Tex. App.-Austin 2000, pet. denied). As discussed above, we find no
Texas case that addresses the authority of the Governor to grant a posthumous pardon. Based on the
common-law acceptance doctrine, Attorney General Opinion C-471 advised that "the Governor [has]
no power to grant a posthumous full pardon to a deceased convicted felon." Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. No.
C-471 (1965) at 2. However, in the forty-five years since opinion C-471 was issued, the
JPresumably rejecting the idea that acceptance is required for an unconditional pardon to be valid, at least nine
states, either through their governors or their boards of pardons and paroles, have recently granted posthumous pardons.
See Darryl W. Jackson, et al., Bending Toward Justice: The Posthumous Pardon ofLieutenant Henry Ossian Flipper,
74 IND. L.J. 1251, 1277 (1999). Two Presidents of the United States have likewise granted posthumous pardons. Id.;
Eric Lichtblau, Jailed for Aiding Israel, but Pardoned by Bush, N.Y. TIMEs, Dec. 24, 2008, available at
http://www.nytimes.coml2008/12/24/washingtonl24pardons.html (last visited Jan. 6,2010).
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understanding of the acceptance doctrine has changed. See Schick, 419 U.S. at 261 ("requirement
of consent was a legal fiction at best"); cf Cherry v. State, 361 F. Supp. 1284, 1288 (N.D. Tex.
1973) ('''commutation of sentence' ... may be imposed without consent of the convict"). To the
extent that the Governor was previously advised that he was prohibited from issuing a posthumous
pardon, it was reasonable for him to rely on such advice. See Weaver v. Head, 984 S.W.2d 744, 746
(Tex. App.-Texarkana 1999, no pet.) (indicating that public officials sometimes show they acted
in good faith by relying on an attorney general opinion).
Your third question asks about who has standing, and on what grounds, to challenge the
Governor's pardon and what procedure would be used to do so. Request Letter at 4. Under Texas
law, "standing limits subject matter jurisdiction to cases involving a distinct injury to the plaintiff
and 'a real controversy between the parties, which .... will be actually determined by the judicial
declaration sought.'" Brown v. Todd, 53 S.W.3d 297,305 (Tex. 2001) (quoting Texas Workers'
Compensation Comm 'n v. Garcia, 893 S.W.2d 504, 517-18 (Tex. 1995)). In Brown v. Todd, the
Texas Supreme Court reviewed a city council member's standing to challenge an executive order
issued by the mayor. Id. at 299. In doing so, it adopted a federal standing requirement, demanding
that '" [a] plaintiff must allege personal injury fairly traceable to the defendant's allegedly unlawful
conduct and likely to be redressed by the requested relief.'" Id at 305 (quoting Raines v. Byrd, 521
U.S. 811, 818-19 (1997)). Finding the city council memberlacked standing, the court emphasized
that the United States Supreme Court has "consistently stressed that a plaintiffs complaint must
establish that he has a 'personal stake' in the alleged dispute" and that the injury suffered is "concrete
and particularized." Id. (quoting Raines, 521 U.S. at 819).
We have found no Texas case that specifically addresses standing to challenge a pardon
issued by the Governor. However, it is instructive that a federal district court dismissed a plaintiff s
challenge to the President's issuance of a pardon because the plaintiff did not allege concrete injury
to himself. McCordv. Ford, 398 F. Supp. 750, 754-55 (D.D.C. 1975); see also Brown, 53 S.W.3d
at 305 (adopting a federal standing requirement requiring, among other things, that the plaintiff
establish concrete injury and stating that the court may look to federal standing requirements when
considering an issue of first impression). We cannot predict in the abstract all circumstances that
may create standing to challenge the Governor's issuance of a pardon. However, a party would
likely lack standing to challenge the Governor's pardon unless the challenging party can prove a
personal and concrete injury fairly traceable to the Governor's granting of an unlawful pardon and
likely to be redressed by the requested relief.
What procedure would be used to challenge the Governor's pardon is a separate question
from who has standing to do so. We have been unable to find a Texas case in which the Governor's
decision to grant a pardon was successfully challenged. Furthermore, Texas courts have generally
refused to review such decisions, explaining that they have "no power to review the wisdom of an
act of the Governor so long as he operates within the law in exercising his own discretion and
judgment in the performance of his constitutional duties." Ex parte Pitt, 206 S.W.2d 596,596 (Tex.
Crim. App. 1947); see Ex parte Rice, 162 S.W. at 901 ("the right to grant pardons is conferred on
the Governor by the Constitution, and in granting them his actions are not subject to review"); see
also Ohio Adult Parole Auth. v. Woodard, 523 U.S. 272, 284 (1998) ("Clemency proceedings are
The Honorable Rodney Ellis - Page 5 (GA-0754)
not part of the ... adjudicatory process. . .. They are conducted by the executive branch,
independent of direct appeal and collateral relief proceedings. "). Given the lack of precedent for a
challenge to the Governor's issuance of a pardon and the general refusal of courts to review the
Governor's decision, we cannot advise you as to a procedure that might be used to successfully
challenge the Governor's pardon.
Your final question asks whether ''the Board of Pardons and Paroles [is] constitutionally
authorized to recommend a posthumous pardon[.]" Request Letter at 4. The constitution requires
the Legislature to "establish a Board of Pardons and Paroles" and authorizes the Board to provide
"written signed recommendation and advice" to the Governor regarding pardons. TEx. CONST. art.
IV, § 11 (a)-(b). Pursuant to this provision, the Legislature requires that, "[o]n request of the
governor, the board ... investigate a person being considered by the governor for ... pardon." TEx.
GOV'T CODE ANN. § 508.050(a)(1) (Vernon 2004). "The board shall report to the governor on its
investigation and make recommendations about the person to the governor." ld. § 508.050(b).
Like the Governor's power, the Texas Constitution gives the Board the power to recommend
pardons in all criminal cases except treason and impeachment and has not otherwise limited its
authority to recommend posthumous pardons. See TEx. CONST. art. IV, § II(b). Under its own
rules,
the board will consider applications for recommendation to the
governor for a pardon for innocence upon receipt of:
(1) a written recommendation of at least two of the current
trial officials of the court of conviction, with one trial official
submitting documentary evidence of actual innocence; or
(2) a certified order or judgment of a court having jurisdiction
accompanied by a certified copy of the findings of fact and
conclusions of law where the court recommends that the Court of
Criminal Appeals grant state habeas relief on the grounds of actual
innocence.
37 TEx. ADMIN. CODE § I43.2(a) (2009) (Tex. Bd. of Pardons and Paroles, Pardons for Innocence).
We find no authority otherwise limiting who the Board may recommend for a pardon. We therefore
believe a court would likely conclude that the Board is authorized to recommend that the Governor
grant a posthumous pardon.
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SUMMARY
The Texas Constitution does not expressly address or limit the
Governor's authority to grant a posthumous pardon. While a prior
attorney general opinion concluded he could not grant a posthumous
pardon due to the recipient's inability to accept it, modem United
States Supreme Court decisions reject the common-law acceptance
requirement that formed the basis of that opinion and the underlying
Texas authorities. Given this shift in Supreme Court precedent and
the Legislature's apparent recognition ofthis shift, we believe a Texas
court would likely conclude that the Governor may grant a
posthumous pardon under current Texas law, so long as all other
constitutional requirements are met.
While they are persuasive authority, attorney general opinions
are not binding; however, to the extent that the Governor was
previously advised in an attorney general opinion that Texas law
prohibited him from issuing a posthumous pardon, it was reasonable
for him to rely on such advice.
Only those able to prove a concrete injury that can be
redressed by the courts will have standing to challenge the
Governor's decision to grant a pardon. Texas courts generally refuse
to review the Governor's exercise of the pardon power so long as he
operates within the constitutional restraints of that power.
We believe a court would likely conclude that the Board of
Pardons and Paroles is authorized to recommend that the Governor
grant a posthumous pardon.
ANDREW WEBER
First Assistant Attorney General
JONATHAN K. FRELS
Deputy Attorney General for Legal Counsel
NANCY S. FULLER
Chair, Opinion Committee
Virginia K. Hoelscher
Assistant Attorney General, Opinion Committee