Camacho, R-Saipan, said the governor’s executive power to grant such privileges will undermine justice if left unchecked.
“The governor’s power to grant reprieve, commute or pardon, if left uncheck, will diminish the role of the courts and jury that have decided on a case,” he said.
The lawmaker said his proposal aims to ensure that only those individuals who have made significant changes in their lives and have become productive members of the community benefit from such privilege.
“Not as a means to wipe the slate clean for political friends and supporters that have not earned such consideration,” said Camacho.
His initiative must be passed by a three-fourths vote at both houses of the Legislature before it can be placed on the ballot for ratification in the next general election.
If the people ratify the proposed changes to Article III of the CNMI Constitution, the names of candidates for reprieves, commutations and pardons “shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the commonwealth and the public shall have 30 days to comment on them.”
The next general election is scheduled for Nov. 2009.
