Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: Governors Pardon

Forgive me, I am still laughing from that part

of your question which assumed that any possible

or imaginable service which might be needed by a

consumer of legal services could possibly be free.

The answer is that it is a very complicated

multi-step series of tasks. The first is to apply

for relief under section 1203.4 Penal Code.

Technically, a petition under that section allows

your plea or verdict to be set aside and to have

the case dismissed. Nice sounding words but it

really bestows little or no benefits. You still

have a record showing guilt and subsequent relief

under section 1203.4. Still it is necessary to

do this as a first step. You need to allege that

you have completed your probation successfully and

have no pending charges. This is an easy procedure

and the Clerk's Office will have forms to do this.

The next step is to apply for a certificate of

rehabilitation. This is complicated and has to be

done not only perfectly but creatively as well.

The "system" does not like to hand these out and

you have to work for one.

When you have the Cert.Rehab., then you can

apply to the Governor concerning a Pardon. These

are relatively rare and much attention to both

detail and creative presentation (eg. advertising)

is necessary to even get considered. One would

need to have some startling facts (ie. winning the

Nobel Peace Prize would help)

In all, don't try to go this procedure alone.

P.S. It will be expensive.

Larry B. Bruce