It Looks Like Sheriff Joe’s Criminal Conviction Will Be Quashed DOJ backs motion to vacate conviction

[link to dailycaller.com]


The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a motion Monday supporting former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s bid to have his criminal conviction for contempt of court vacated.

The motion almost assures that Arpaio’s criminal conviction will be dismissed.

Though the president has the power to grant reprieves to any person for crimes against the United States, he does not have the power to vacate convictions. That power rests exclusively with the federal courts. Thus, though the pardon protects him from a jail sentence and further prosecution, Arpaio is still technically a convict.

Arpaio’s lawyers asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to vacate the conviction in late August, after the former sheriff received a pardon from President Donald Trump. Arpaio’s team argues that the pardon foreclosed any chance for the former sheriff to appeal his conviction and seek reversal of the verdict.

In their brief Monday, DOJ lawyers claim that the pardon effectively mooted the case, because the court cannot impose any punishment against Arpaio for the conviction. Federal courts are only empowered to hear ongoing controversies where their intervention will make some difference to the case. A case is rendered “moot” when events render further action on the court’s part meaningless. Since the court can take no action to affect the Arpaio’s case, federal prosecutors say the case is moot and should be dismissed.

“A pardon issued before entry of final judgment moots a criminal case because the defendant will face no consequences that result from the guilty verdict,” the brief reads. “Accordingly, the government agrees that the Court should vacate all orders and dismiss the case as moot.”