---
title: 'Notable Grants of Clemency'
description: 'President Joe Biden in 2024 (37 out of 40 federal death-row prisoners). In a statement, President Biden explained: “These commutations are consistent with…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy-issues/policy/clemency/notable-grants-of-clemency'
section: topics
date: '2019-04-18T14:44:52-04:00'
updated: '2025-07-25T11:54:01-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

Since 1976, there have been ten broad or blanket grants of clemency to death row prisoners:  

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- President Joe Biden in 2024 (37 out of 40 federal death-row prisoners). In a [statement](https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/23/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-federal-death-row-commutations/), President Biden explained: "These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. ... In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted."
- Gov. Roy Cooper in North Carolina in 2024 (15 death-sentenced prisoners).
- Gov. Kate Brown in Oregon in 2022 (all death-sentenced prisoners).
- Gov. Jared Polis in Colorado in 2020 (all death-sentenced prisoners).
- Gov. Martin O'Malley in Maryland in 2015 (all death-sentenced prisoners).
- Gov. Pat Quinn in Illinois in 2011 (all death-sentenced prisoners), just before signing bill repealing death penalty.
- Gov. Jon Corzine (pictured) in New Jersey in 2007 (all death-sentenced prisoners), just before signing bill repealing death penalty.
- Gov. George Ryan in Illinois in 2003 (all death-sentenced prisoners).
- Gov. Richard Celeste in Ohio in 1991 (8 death-sentenced prisoners).
- Gov. Toney Anaya in New Mexico in 1986 (all death-sentenced prisoners).

There were six notable grants of broad clemency prior to the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976:
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- Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller (pictured) commuted all death sentences in Arkansas in 1971.
- Gov. Frank Clement commuted all the death sentences in Tennessee in 1965, after the legislature defeated an abolition bill by a single vote.
- Gov. Endicott "Chub" Peabody of Massachusetts commuted every death sentence (1962-1964).
- Gov. Robert D. Holmes of Oregon commuted every death sentence that arose during his term (1957-1959).
- Gov. Mark Hatfield of Oregon commuted every death sentence after the death penalty was abolished by state referendum in 1964.
- Gov. Lee Cruce of Oklahoma commuted every death sentence imposed during his administration (1911-1915).