PARDONS
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
WHEREAS,
on May 1, 1997 a Special Grand Jury
was impaneled and sworn by Franklin Circuit Judge William L. Graham to
investigate the 1995 gubernatorial election; and
WHEREAS,
on September 24, 1998 the Special Grand Jury presented in Franklin Circuit
Court indictment number 98-CR 136-001 which charged Andrew Jackson Martin, Jr.,
Daniel P. Ross, Lon Edward Fields, Sr. and Robert Marion Winstead with
violations of Kentucky’s election laws; and
WHEREAS,
Martin, Ross, Fields and Winstead each have made written application to the
Governor for pardon of the charges which have been made against them and said
applications have been reviewed and the reasons in support of a pardon for each
individual have been considered; and
WHEREAS, Martin, Ross, Fields
and Winstead each have written the Governor a personal letter in which they
have indicated they did not knowingly violate any Kentucky election law
relative to the 1995 gubernatorial election; and
WHEREAS, a pardon can serve
to correct injustices particularly in this instance where substantial
controversy remains as to the constitutionality of Kentucky election laws as
evidenced by conflicting judicial opinions and the modification and suspension
of portions of these laws by the Kentucky General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, these defendants for
these reasons should not continue to be exposed to further degradation,
punishment and the prospect of a lengthy jury trial at substantial cost to them
and Kentucky’s taxpayers:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and by
virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 77 and related provisions in
the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, I, PAUL E. PATTON, Governor
of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, do hereby grant to Andrew Jackson Martin, Jr.,
Daniel P. Ross, Lon Edward Fields, Sr. and Robert Marion Winstead a full,
complete and unconditional pardon for all offenses against the Commonwealth of
Kentucky which each, or any of them, collectively or individually, have committed
or may have committed or taken part in pertaining to the 1995 primary or
general election or any investigation or proceeding relating thereto, including
but not limited to the period from November 10, 1994 through September 24,
1998.
Done at the Capitol, in the City of Frankfort, this 18th day of June,
in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Three and in the year of the
Commonwealth the Two Hundred and Twelfth.
______________________________________
PAUL
E. PATTON, Governor
Commonwealth
of Kentucky
_____________________________
JOHN Y. BROWN III
Secretary of State