A perfect Clemency Petition that is not in the Pardon Attorney's Office or the White House will not be granted.

I feel that I must write again about the obvious.  In order to receive clemency, you must have a clemency petition in the office of the Pardon Attorney.  We're very hopeful that President Trump will grant clemency to nonviolent marijuana offenders serving sentences in the Federal Prison System .  

This is a sad story.  In 2010 I started contacting an inmate serving a life sentence for a nonviolent marijuana only offence.  He had only been incarcerated for 5 years but his case was particularly compelling.  His name was Hector Ruben McGurk.  He fit the profile perfectly for this outrageous sentence as he had gone to trial.  There was an additional aspect to his prosecution - Hector had a hung jury for  his first trial.  

When President Obama announced Clemency Project 14. I submitted Mr. McGurk's name to  Cynthia Roseberry,  Director of Clemency Project 2014.  In Dec. 2015 Hector was assigned a pro bono attorney, Charles Galbraith, who had been working in  the Obama White House.  I contacted him to give him Hector's contacts and information.  I believed that Hector had won the jack-pot.  

Months passed and I did not see Mr. McGurk's petition in the Pardon Attorney's Office.  In September of 2016 the Clemency Project was coming to an end and I contacted Mr. Galbraith again and had no response.  I was told by Ms. Roseberry that she could not contact the attorney, only Mr. McGurk could  do that - she could also could not contact Mr. McGurk - his case manager would have to set up those contacts.  Mr. McGurks case manager would not accommodate him.  

In December of 2016 after Clemency Project 2014 was concluded, Mr. McGurk's petition was filed.  

Needless to say, he did not receive clemency.  

I believe that there will be many commutations for nonviolent marijuana only offenders in the near future.  This is a no brainer category for President Trump and has bipartisan support.  For this reason, I checked the Pardon Attorney's web site to be sure that Hector's clemency petition was still active.  I was shocked to see that he did not have an active petition,  His petition had been denied in 2023.

I have sent him a new petition to submit and will again ask for support for his clemency.  

 

Alice Marie Johnson - New Pardon Czar.

The best news from the Trump White House - Alice Marie Johnson has been  appointed the new Pardon Czar by President Trump.

Alice is a remarkable human being who understands the strength of the current that is our criminal justice system.

Alice Marie Johnson

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/25/nx-s1-5307330/trump-pardon-czar-who-is-alice-marie-johnson

Biden's Clemency's

 

One Non-violent marijuana only offender with a life sentence was on the list for clemency today.  Albert Madrid received clemency.

Hector McGurk, Ismael Lira and Pedro Moreno are nonviolent marijuana only offenders who were sentenced to Life for Pot,  They will die in a an 8X12 concrete box with a toilet, sink, two lockers and two beds if they don't receive commutations.

All three went to trial and received the trial penalty at sentencing,  We hope for mercy and compassion for those who have been left behind.  

There can be no integrity in the criminal justice system or the cannabis industry as long a nonviolent marijuana only offenders are behind bars.