VIRTUAL EVENT: “Benign Prerogative,” The Presidential Pardon Power and the Rule of Law
In Federalist 74 Alexander Hamilton wrote that: “The benign prerogative of pardoning should be as little as possible fettered or embarrassed.” He wrote that vesting this prerogative in the sole power of one person “would naturally inspire scrupulousness and caution; the dread of being accused of weakness or connivance, would beget equal circumspection.” Since the founding of the United States, presidents have wielded the “benign prerogative of pardoning” in a variety of situations, often inviting controversy.
How well has the exercise of the power reflected the Founders’ vision? Has the time come to reform or repeal the pardon power?
Join the Society for the Rule of Law, for a webinar on Tuesday, April 14, at 12:00 PM ET, as we discuss these questions with Saikrishna Prakash, Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Professor Prakash closely analyzes the history and meaning of the pardon power in his new book, The Presidential Pardon: The Short Clause with a Long, Troubled History- a book which Harvard Law Professor Cass Sunstein has called, “the best book ever written on the pardon power.” Originally designed for sparing and solemn use, the pardon has become a regularly employed tool of presidential power. Prakash describes how both sides of the political spectrum have been perceived as exploiting the pardon for political advantage and he explores potential pathways to reform.
This program has been approved for CLE credit in Illinois. Attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions may be able to claim credit in their home state and should consult their state’s CLE rules. In order to receive credit, users must successfully complete our verification survey after the webinar is complete. To complete this survey, you will need to correctly record the two attendance codes given out during the webinar.
You can access the survey from a link posted to the livestream chat or in the Webinar event description on your streaming platform (LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook Live). We will post the link for you again in the livestream chat at the end of the webinar. If you are watching this from X, you will be able to locate the link in a follow-up post.
Join us on Tuesday, April 14, at 12:00 PM ET as we further discuss Prakash’s book, and the state and future of the Pardon Power.
Saikrishna Prakash is the James Monroe Distinguished Professor of Law and Horace W. Goldsmith Research Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law. He is the recent author of The Presidential Pardon: The Short Clause with a Long, Troubled History. Harvard University Press, 2026.
Gregg Nunziata, our Executive Director, will be our Moderator.
This event will be on the record and open to press; for media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
Featured Speakers
Saikrishna Prakash
Gregg Nunziata