act of clemency
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
From 282 U.S. 304 - United States v. Benz · 1931Most cited · 1,031 citing opinions
To cut short a sentence by an act of clemency is an exercise of executive power which abridges the enforcement of the judgment, but does not alter it qua judgment. To reduce a sentence by amendment alters the terms of the judgment itself and is a judicial act as much as the imposition of the sentence in the first instance