A pardon can restore many of your personal, civil and political rights.
If you have been convicted of a crime, you are familiar with the weight that a criminal conviction has. Having a criminal record can make it difficult to find a job, own a gun, serve on a jury, or possess certain professional licenses. Fortunately, there are methods for restoring your ability to engage in these activities after being convicted of a crime. An Orange County defense lawyer can assist you with one of these methods: a governor’s pardon.
A California governor’s pardon is exactly what it sounds like — a pardoning of your criminal conviction. In the past, a governor’s pardon was reserved for rare cases. However, Governor Jerry Brown has issued a high number of pardons since taking office, making this a good time to apply for a pardon.
A governor’s pardon brings with it many benefits, including the ability to own or possess firearms (unless you were convicted of an offense involving a dangerous weapon), the right to serve on a jury, and relief from having to register as a California sex offender. However, it does not seal or destroy your California criminal record, and it can still be used against you for immigration purposes. If you want to have your criminal record sealed or destroyed, talk to an Orange County defense lawyer about the potential for doing so and the best way to accomplish that goal.
Eligibility for California governor’s pardon is available to anyone who has been convicted of any California crime, but is usually limited people who have completed their probation or parole at least ten years ago, and who have not engaged in any criminal activity in that ten year period. In addition, a governor’s pardon only works for California criminal convictions — not for federal crimes or crimes from other states. If you have been convicted of two or more felonies, the California Supreme Court is required to review your case and recommend to the governor that you be pardoned.
Your Orange County defense lawyer can help you apply for a California governor’s pardon in one of two ways: either with an application for a California Certificate of Rehabilitation or without an application for a California Certificate of Rehabilitation. This certificate is granted by the California Superior Court, and then forwarded to the governor’s office. If it is granted, it is an automatic application for a governor’s pardon. If you are not eligible for a California Certificate of Rehabilitation, then you can apply directly for a governor’s pardon. An experienced Orange County defense lawyer can help you with this process, which is known as an Application for Executive Clemency.
If you have been convicted of a California crime, applying for a pardon is one way to restore your rights. If you have been charged with a crime, the Chambers Law Firm can help. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation.
