re: #115 Belafon

I would kind of be on board with their interpretation if it weren’t for Ford-Nixon. I also suspect, though, that this ruling will be way more lopsided than 5-4. It has that generic-ruling smell to it that will probably also sway some of the liberal judges.

If a state wants to work their way around it, however, what if they were to file charges before a federal pardon for similar crimes? I don’t see how this ruling would permit a US president to directly issue a pardon for state charges already in effect.