The leader of the Kentucky Senate expects pardon related legislation to pass during the current General Assembly session. Former Governor Matt Bevin is facing increasing criticism for issuing an unusually high number of pardons as he was leaving office. Senate President Robert Stivers envisions a pardon commission to review such requests before they would go to the governor.
“That’s what I would prefer a series of protocols that would allow then both victims and defendants and prosecutors to put something before this commission for them to have the ability to research it and then make a recommendation,” said Stivers.
Stivers believes such a change would require a constitutional amendment, which, if approved by lawmakers, would then go before Kentucky voters. The Manchester Senator says his idea is one of about three pardon related proposals being considered in Frankfort.?