County Commission of Mercer County v. Dodrill

I respectfully dissent in part from the opinion of the majority. While the majority is correct in its holding that the governor possesses a wide-ranging and exclusive right to grant reprieves, the real question is whether the action in issue here is truly in the nature of a reprieve.

A reprieve is defined as the “[tjemporary relief from or postponement of execution of criminal punishment or sentence. It does no more than stay the execution of a sentence for a time_” Black’s Law Dictionary 1170 5th ed. (1979). See also 59 Am.Jur.2d Pardon and Parole §§ 4 & 22 (1987); 67A C.J.S. Pardon and…