Calvin Burkett Clark
Commutation by Barack Obama
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base
- District
- District of South Carolina
- Original Sentence
- 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (Terms: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 168 months’ imprisonment.)
- Clemency Type
- Commutation — reduces sentence but conviction stands
Case Overview & Context
Plain-English summary of the case and the legal context for this type of clemency
Case Overview
Calvin Burkett Clark was convicted in the District of South Carolina of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base. He was originally sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. His prison sentence was reduced to 168 months (14 years), cutting 72 months from his incarceration term while leaving the supervised release portion unchanged.
Pardon Context
A commutation reduces or eliminates a sentence but does not erase the underlying conviction or restore civil rights like voting or firearm ownership. The recipient remains a convicted felon and must still complete any remaining prison time and the full term of supervised release as originally imposed. Under Article II of the Constitution, the clemency power is absolute and requires no judicial approval or external review. The president's personal reasoning for this specific grant is not publicly documented.
AI-generated summary based on public clemency records. The president's specific personal reasoning for this grant is not publicly documented.
Constitutional authority: Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution grants the President “Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States.” This power is absolute for federal crimes — Congress cannot override it, and no judicial review is required. The president is not required to publish reasons for individual grants.