Attorney General Aaron Ford and Gov. Joe Lombardo are facing political scrutiny over their voting records on the Nevada Board of Pardons Commissioners ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The board, which comprises the governor, attorney general and seven Nevada Supreme Court justices, votes publicly on pardons and commutations. A Review-Journal analysis found Ford voted in favor of clemency for 54 people convicted of murder or manslaughter during his seven years on the board, while Lombardo voted for 18 such cases since joining in 2023.
Lombardo and his allies have highlighted Ford's record in campaign attacks. A Better Nevada PAC ad stated "letting one killer go is unacceptable," and Lombardo posted on X that Ford's support for clemency for "30 convicted killers tells a different story" regarding his tough-on-crime stance, specifically citing the case of Norman Smith. Lombardo told reporters his votes were based on "public safety consideration and the rights of victims and their families."
Retired Justice Michael Cherry said politicizing individual votes misunderstands the board's function. "If you go after Ford, you have to go after the people who voted with him if there's a pardon," he said. "If you go after Lombardo, you have to go after the people with him if the pardon is granted." The analysis showed more than half of the examined votes were unanimous.
The board balances accountability with mercy, rehabilitation and past injustices, often granting relief to people decades removed from their crimes. Neither campaign made the candidates available for comprehensive interviews about their board records despite repeated requests.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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