Exoneration

The current House Resolution requests that the Governor grant a 'pardon' to John Gordon. It does not seek an 'exoneration' because it is the opinion of our legal team that the Governor's powers are limited to 'pardons'. Unfortunately, the concept of a pardon implies that a person is guilty of some action. We all believe that John Gordon was not guilty, or at least not 'proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt'. It is our goal to follow the granting of this pardon with a pursuit of an 'exoneration', or to at least address the legal issue as to how one can obtain an 'exoneration' under the current laws.

Wikipedia Definition

Exoneration occurs when a person who has been convicted of a crime is later proved to have been innocent of that crime. Attempts to exonerate convicts are particularly controversial in death penalty cases, especially where new evidence is put forth after the execution has taken place. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exoneration

Meriam-Webster Definitions

exoneration - noun
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing [the accused refused a plea bargain, asserting that he was innocent and would settle for nothing less than complete exoneration]
Synonyms: clearing, exculpation, exoneration, vindication
Related Words: absolution, condonation, forgiveness, pardon, remission; atonement, expiation; compurgation; whitewash
Near Antonyms: accusation, arraignment, impeachment, incrimination, indictment; prosecution; castigation, censure, condemnation, denunciation
Antonyms: conviction
 exonerate - transitive verb
1: to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship
2: to clear from accusation or blame
Examples: [the results of the DNA fingerprinting finally exonerated the man, but only after he had wasted 10 years of his life in prison]
Origin: Middle English, from Latin exoneratus, past participle of exonerare to unburden, from ex- + oner-, onus load
First Known Use: 1524
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exonerate

The Berkeley, CA based, Life After Exoneration Program, addresses the injustices faced by the wrongfully convicted and incarcerated after they are released from prison. Click on this link for some very interesting information: Life After Exoneration Program

University of Chicago Law School, Exoneration Project, represents clients who have been convicted of crimes of which they are innocent. The Project assists clients in asserting their claims of actual innocence in state and federal court. Click on this link for additional information: Exoneration Project