To the Editor:The suggestions for pardon reform in “How to Repair the Pardon Process” (editorial, Dec. 24) don’t mention the most important change to the pardon power absent a constitutional amendment: The Supreme Court should rule that the president lacks the power to pardon a person not convicted. That change alone would go far to reduce pardon abuses. Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter’s pardon of the Vietnam draft evaders, Bill Clinton’s pardon of Marc Rich, and any pardons President Trump might issue to members of his administration or his family for any as yet uncharged crimes — all should be void. A pardon is a remedy granted only after a person has been convicted. To the Editor:When listing the limits to the “vast” presidential pardon power, you write, “Some constitutional scholars say” that presidents “may not pardon themselves.”

Source: New York Times December 29, 2020 20:33 UTC