Brown Limits Governor's Clemency Reach

Gov. Jerry Brown is responding to a controversial decision by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger by signing a bill that slows down the governor's ability to grant clemency to convicted criminals.
        Just hours before leaving office in January, Schwarzenegger commuted the voluntary manslaughter sentence of Esteban Nunez from 16 years to seven. Nunez is the son of former Assembly speaker Fabian Nunez, a Schwarzenegger ally.
        On Monday, Brown signed AB648 by Democratic Assemblyman Marty Block of San Diego. It requires the governor to give at least 10 days' notice to the district attorney in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred before acting on an application for clemency.
        Such a move would give the district attorney time to notify crime victims and allow them to petition against a sentence reduction.