Just before stepping down, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy made a sweeping clemency move that’s raising eyebrows across the state.

On Tuesday, Murphy granted clemency to 148 individuals in his final act before leaving office. This action follows a pattern seen among outgoing leaders, including former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as past New Jersey governors like Chris Christie and Jon Corzine. Among the recipients were a former lawmaker, a prominent pastor, and the son of a Democratic fundraiser, sparking questions about the influence of political ties.

The broader context of Murphy’s tenure shows he issued no pardons in his first term and most of his second, but granted 455 pardons and commutations in his last year. Most recipients were everyday New Jerseyans, with progressive groups like the ACLU-NJ backing his efforts to restore rights, including jury eligibility for hundreds of thousands. Still, the timing and selection of certain high-profile cases have drawn scrutiny.

Murphy’s Final Clemency Sparks Debate

The issue has sparked debate over fairness and the role of political connections in executive decisions. While many applaud Murphy’s broader push for second chances, the inclusion of well-connected individuals feels like a thumb on the scale to some.

Take Harris Jacobs, pardoned on the same day a jury found him guilty in a fatal 2022 hit-and-run that killed Orlando Fraga in Atlantic City. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, led by a Murphy appointee, issued a sharp rebuke without naming the governor, highlighting the tragedy of an elderly man’s death and a grieving family. They argued that political influence undermines the integrity of the justice system.

“Unfortunately, when politics pervades justice, the rule of law becomes subordinate to influence and power,” the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office stated. Such a statement cuts deep, suggesting that a jury’s verdict can be erased by a pen stroke from on high. If justice isn’t blind, what’s left of public trust?

Political Ties in Clemency Decisions

Jacobs’ case isn’t isolated—his father, Joe Jacobs, reportedly raised over $100,000 for first lady Tammy Murphy’s failed Senate bid in one night, per InsiderNJ. That kind of financial clout tied to a last-minute pardon smells like favoritism, no matter how you slice it. The governor’s overseas trip and lack of immediate comment only fuel the perception of dodging accountability.

Then there’s Democratic Assemblymember Al Coutinho, pardoned after pleading guilty in 2013 to misusing $32,500 from his family’s charitable foundation. “I’m honored and humbled the governor decided to issue a pardon for something that happened 12 years ago,” Coutinho said in an interview, according to Politico. Honored or not, the optics of pardoning a former politician while others wait years for relief don’t sit right with those who value equal treatment under the law.

Other recipients like Mordechai Berkowitz, convicted of vehicular homicide in 2022, and Moshe Glick, a physician charged with aggravated assault, also raise questions. Berkowitz’s six-year sentence under the No Early Release Act was cut short, while Glick’s case, tied to a protest incident, gained national attention. These aren’t your average second-chance stories—they carry weight and controversy.

Prominent Pastor Among Pardoned

Steffie Bartley, a prominent North Jersey pastor leading the state’s National Action Network chapter, also received clemency. Bartley, a vocal Murphy supporter over both terms, has openly discussed past convictions from decades ago during church services. Rewarding a loyal advocate at the eleventh hour feels less like mercy and more like a political thank-you note.

Historical precedent doesn’t help Murphy’s case—Chris Christie pardoned a campaign donor before leaving office, and Jon Corzine issued last-hour reprieves, too. Even President Trump’s sweeping pardons, including for January 6 rioters on his first day back in a hypothetical context, show how executive power can tilt toward allies. It’s a tradition, sure, but not one that inspires confidence in impartiality.

Progressive agendas often push for broad clemency as a form of social reform, and Murphy’s restoration of jury rights for many is hard to argue against. Yet, when the spotlight falls on a handful of connected names, it overshadows the good. The public isn’t blind to the pattern of who gets picked for mercy.

Public Trust at Stake

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s words linger: a system swayed by “status, relationships, power, and expediency” risks losing community faith. That’s not just a critique of one pardon—it’s a warning about the erosion of trust in institutions meant to protect everyone equally.

Murphy’s overall record on clemency may lean toward the everyman, with hundreds benefiting from his late-term push. Still, these final acts, dripping with political undertones, leave a bitter taste. When power seems to pick winners, the little guy wonders if justice was ever on his side.