Changes

Respites delay the imposition of sentence but in no way modify a sentence or address the question of guilt or innocence. Historically, [[presidents]] have granted most respites for periods of 30 to 90 days and have renewed (extended) such delays when it seemed necessary.<ref>Microfilm Set T967, National Archives</ref>  

Respites delay the imposition of sentence but in no way modify a sentence or address the question of guilt or innocence. Historically, [[presidents]] have granted most respites for periods of 30 to 90 days and have renewed (extended) such delays when it seemed necessary.<ref>Microfilm Set T967, National Archives</ref>  

According to the Office of the Pardon Attorney (U.S. [[Department of Justice]]), presidents have used respites to varying degrees although, as is the case with every other form of executive clemency, there has been something like a general decline since 1900.[http://www.rvc.cc.il.us/faclink/pruckman/pardoncharts/all_files/image002.gif] The Pardon Attorney's data for recent use of respites are as follows: [[William McKinley]] (6), [[Theodore Roosevelt]] (9), [[William Taft]] (15), [[Woodrow Wilson]] (226), [[Warren Harding]] (48), [[Calvin Coolidge]] (19), [[Herbert Hoover]] (1) [[Franklin Roosevelt]] (12),<ref>http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/actions_fiscal.htm</ref> [[Harry Truman]] (13), [[John F. Kennedy]] (3), [[Lyndon Johnson]] (1), [[Richard Nixon]] (3), [[Gerald Ford]] (5) and [[Jimmy Carter]] (3).<ref>http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/actions_administration.htm</ref>

According to the Office of the Pardon Attorney (U.S. [[Department of Justice]]), presidents have used respites to varying degrees although, as is the case with every other form of executive clemency, there has been a general decline since 1900.[http://www.rvc.cc.il.us/faclink/pruckman/pardoncharts/all_files/image002.gif] The Pardon Attorney's data for recent use of respites are as follows: [[William McKinley]] (6), [[Theodore Roosevelt]] (9), [[William Taft]] (15), [[Woodrow Wilson]] (226), [[Warren Harding]] (48), [[Calvin Coolidge]] (19), [[Herbert Hoover]] (1) [[Franklin Roosevelt]] (12),<ref>http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/actions_fiscal.htm</ref> [[Harry Truman]] (13), [[John F. Kennedy]] (3), [[Lyndon Johnson]] (1), [[Richard Nixon]] (3), [[Gerald Ford]] (5) and [[Jimmy Carter]] (3).<ref>http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/actions_administration.htm</ref>

Most recently, [[Bill Clinton]] twice delayed the court-ordered execution of Juan Garza in order that an ongoing study of bias in the federal death-penalty system might be completed.<ref>"Media Spotlight Dims as Garza Put to Death," ''Houston Chronicle'', June 20, 2001</ref>  

Most recently, [[Bill Clinton]] twice delayed the court-ordered execution of Juan Garza in order that an ongoing study of bias in the federal death-penalty system might be completed.<ref>"Media Spotlight Dims as Garza Put to Death," ''Houston Chronicle'', June 20, 2001</ref>