Legal Dictionary of Pakistan

Quick lookup for English, Urdu, and Latin legal terms used in Pakistani jurisprudence.

Pardon

n. The act or an instance of officially nullifying punishment or other legal consequences of a crime. ( A pardon is usu. granted by the chief executive of a government <the President has the sole power to issue pardons for federal offenses, while state governors have the power to issue pardons for state crimes>. - Also termed executive pardon. -pardon, ub. See CLEMENCY. Cf. COMMUTATION (2); REPRIEVE.

absolute pardon

A pardon that releases the wrongdoer from punishment and restores the offender's civil rights without qualification. - Also termed full pardon; unconditional pardon.

board of pardons.

A state agency, of which the governor is usu. a member, authorized to pardon persons convicted of crimes.

conditional pardon

A pardon that does not become effective until the wrongdoer satisfies a prerequisite or that will be revoked upon the occurrence of some specified act. general pardon See AMNESTY.

executive pardon

See PARDON

full pardon.

See absolute pardon under PARDON

general pardon

See AMNESTY.

jury pardon

A rule that permits a jury to convict a defendant of a lesser offense than the offense charged if sufficient evidence exists to convict the defendant of either offense. jury pool See VENIRE (1).

pardon attorney

A Justice Department lawyer who considers applications for federal pardons and forwards those of promising candidates for review by the President.

partial pardon

See PARDON.

unconditional pardon

See absolute pardon under PARDON.