As an independent Christian conservative, I hold deeply to the belief that justice should be impartial, transparent, and rooted in truth. Yet the presidential pardon, once envisioned as a tool for mercy and justice, has become a symbol of inequality and political gamesmanship. The recent wave of pardons and commutations from President Biden—combined with the messy debates over preemptive pardons for political allies—underscores why this power needs to be retired.

Let’s be clear: the power to pardon was intended as a failsafe. The Founders, in their wisdom, included it in the Constitution to correct injustices and show mercy where the courts failed. But in practice, the pardon has often served the powerful and well-connected, leaving ordinary Americans wondering whether justice truly is blind.

The Problem with Presidential Pardons

First, the Conahan case alone shows how unfit the pardon power is for modern governance. Here’s a man who abused his position as a judge to funnel children into for-profit detention centers, destroying countless young lives in the process. He got 17 years—a fraction of what many Americans get for far less egregious offenses. Yet here we are, with his sentence commuted after just a decade. Why? Because some bureaucrat followed “broad criteria” instead of looking at the details.

This isn’t justice. It’s bureaucracy at its worst, and it sends a message that the scales of justice tip in favor of those with wealth, status, or connections.

Second, the idea of preemptive pardons takes the issue to a whole new level. What’s being suggested isn’t mercy; it’s immunity. If Biden preemptively pardons political allies, it will set a precedent for future presidents to hand out blanket amnesty to their cronies, creating a “get out of jail free” card for corruption. The rule of law cannot survive such a system.

Arguments for Pardons—and Why They Don’t Hold Up

Proponents of the pardon power often argue it allows presidents to address injustices in a rigid legal system. There’s some truth to that—our justice system isn’t perfect. But the solution isn’t to give one person unchecked power to override the courts. Instead, we need reforms that ensure fairness in sentencing and better mechanisms for reviewing wrongful convictions.

Others claim the pardon is a check on judicial overreach. But who checks the president? If recent history has shown us anything, it’s that presidents use pardons to reward allies (think Trump’s associates) or make sweeping decisions that spark public outrage (like Biden’s commutation of Conahan’s sentence).

Finally, some see the pardon as an expression of mercy, consistent with biblical values. While forgiveness is indeed a Christian virtue, it must be paired with accountability. The Bible teaches that forgiveness follows repentance and change, not a backroom deal or political expediency.

A Better Path Forward

Eliminating the presidential pardon would remove a tool that is too often misused. In its place, Congress could establish a bipartisan clemency board, insulated from political pressure, to review cases and recommend pardons. This would bring transparency, fairness, and consistency to a process that currently depends on the whims of one person.

Let’s also address the deeper issues in our justice system. Too many people are serving excessive sentences for nonviolent crimes, and too many judges, like Conahan, have abused their power. Addressing these systemic problems would reduce the need for presidential clemency altogether.

A Closing Word

As Christians, we are called to seek justice and mercy (Micah 6:8). But mercy cannot exist without justice, and justice cannot exist in a system where some are above the law. The presidential pardon, as it stands today, does more harm than good. It’s time to let it go and build a system that honors both fairness and forgiveness in equal measure.