Attorney General Ellison makes appointments to new Clemency Review Commission

Names former Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, U of M law professor Perry Moriearty, and Carl Crawford

January 12, 2024 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that he has appointed former Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, University of Minnesota Law School Professor Perry Moriearty, and Carl Crawford to serve as his appointees to Minnesota’s new Clemency Review Commission.

Established by law in 2023, the Clemency Review Commission is a nine-member board appointed by the three members of the Board of Pardons: the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Commission will meet at least four times a year to hear eligible clemency applications and make written recommendations to the Board about whether to grant or deny clemency. The Commission will begin its work no later than July 1, 2024.

“Each of these people is deeply accomplished in the field of criminal justice and each will bring their own unique experience, perspective, and life history to advising the Board of Pardons. I trust all three of them will make a powerful contribution to advancing justice and mercy in this important new role. I know they share in the mission of helping every Minnesotan live with dignity, safety, and respect,” Attorney General Ellison said.

Brief bios of Attorney General Ellison’s appointments are below.

John Harrington served as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety from 2019–23. Before that, he served as Metro Transit Police Chief from 2012–18 and Saint Paul Police Chief from 2004–10, and served in the Minnesota Senate from 2011–12. He has taught at the University of St. Thomas and St. Mary’s University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in criminal justice. Harrington currently serves as the CEO of Lights On!, which partners with law enforcement and auto service providers to replace traffic tickets with repair vouchers.

Perry Moriearty is a tenured professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, where she has taught since 2008 and where she specializes in juvenile justice, criminal justice, and race and the law. She is a national expert on juvenile sentencing and policy and her research and scholarship have been cited in numerous publications and legal decisions. She teaches criminal law and juvenile justice and co-directs the Child Advocacy & Juvenile Justice Clinic. She received her law degree from New York University in 1997.

Carl Crawford has served as Human Rights Officer for the City of Duluth since 2016. He also currently serves on the Minnesota State Board of Public Defense and as Vice Chair of the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage. He is a founding member of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, which honors and commemorates three African American men who were lynched in Duluth in 1920. He has also served on the board of many organizations, including Community Action Duluth, the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, and the NAACP.