Why Brian Aitken Wasn't Pardoned

When it was announced that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had commuted the sentence of Brian Aitken, the man sentenced to seven years in prison for carrying a gun in the trunk of his car—even though he appears to have done everything he could to comply with the state's unfortunate gun laws—there was some speculation in the comments here at Hit & Run and elsewhere around the web as to why Christie didn't grant Aitken a full pardon.

I spoke with Evan Nappen, Aitken's attorney, about that today. Nappen actually didn't ask Christie for a full pardon, which he says would have been premature while the conviction is still being appealed. It also would have been a more difficult petition to win. Nappen says his primary interest was to get Aitken out of prison and home for the holidays. He'll now work to get the conviction overturned on appeal, preferably with a ruling that strikes down or at least clarifies New Jersey's gun laws and prevents similar arrests and prosecutions in the future. Nappen says that while he thinks Aitken's chances of having the conviction overturned are good, if he is not successful he can always go back and ask Christie to clear his record once he has exhausted his appeals.

CORRECTION: Fixed a brain lapse typo mistaking New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie with ex-NBA player Doug Christie. Will no longer blog with SportsCenter on in the background.

Comments

[Optimist Prime]

I wonder what ex-NBA player Chris Christie has to say about all of this...

[Waquoit]

When asked for his opinion, Christie said he had to ask his wife.

[Optimist Prime]

+1

[James]

Awesome!!!

[Tim]

Good news, what the fuck are you reporting good news for?

[Andrew S.]

Usually, Radley only posts good news right before he posts one of his patented super nut-kicks.

[Tim's nuts]

We like to be kicked.:-)

[Rrabbit]

Somebody must be impersonating Balko. I expected yet another nut punch.

[CavMedic]

Good. When this was first announced there was a whole lot of "Screw Christie for not issuing a pardon". Cooler heads pointed out that this might be what his lawyer had in mind. Don't go always making the perfect the enemy of the good.

[Tman]

There are a bunch of folks who think that Christie only commuted the sentence because Judge Morley was a complete douchebag who manipulated the jury and refused to allow the claim of moving from one residence to the another- an exception under which citizens can move firearms in their vehicles.

Apparently Christie is not even close to a pro-2nd amendment sort of politican. Bob Owens at Pajamas Media wrote this explaining why-

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/h.....epage=true

Goddammitsomuch.

[Guest-1]

Yeah, why is anyone surprised? Not to take away all the good things he is trying to do on the fiscal side but remember, the guy is a politician. Libertarians need to avoid getting swept up in hero worship just as much as team red and team blue.

[tired dog]

No one gets to the Gov's Mansion in NJ on a pro 2A liberty oriented platform. Each NJ gov since the 60's has maintained or added to the woes of NJ gun owners with the full blessings of the lege and the fokked up citizenry. NJ was one of the first to require a permit for every pistol, vetted by the local cops and fbi...and if chiefie didn't like you, you did not get your pistol, go ahead appeal at your cost.

[Garwoodv6]

WAIT- Christie is a former Prosecutor, IIRC the N.J. Attorney General?

Could be that this case, when overturned, will set a precedent with far-reaching benefits, including the ability to oust this sack-of-shit Judge...?

[?]

there was a whole lot of "Screw Christie for not issuing a pardon"

Standard mob mentality whenever Balko posts a story here.

[ClubMedSux]

Will no longer blog with SportsCenter on in the background.

You really shouldn't do ANYTHING with SportsCenter in the background, unless your only interests are the Miami Heat and Tim Tebow.

[Bret Favre]

What about Me???

[ClubMedSux]

And during baseball season, of course, the Red Sox and/or Yankees.

[Sinic]

Radley,
You should cross-post the Pain Relief Network story here to give everyone the nut-punch they expect.

[ChrisH]

Puh-leez. Senators from New Jersey, not governors, are basketball players.

[Kristen]

Boy, is my face red.

[Winghunter]

New Jersey's illegal (Read: treasonous) law has crossed the line from reactive to proactive. Any good cop/lawyer/judge knows that proactive criminal law is tyranny.

Make no mistake about what they've done.

[????? ??????]

Thanks