The Louisiana Board of Pardons met July 7 at DOC headquarters in Baton Rouge and by phone/Zoom to consider multiple clemency petitions, applications for pardons with restoration of firearm rights, and three commutation requests.

The board recommended clemency in several nonviolent or long-ago convictions and made one commutation recommendation. It denied relief in a number of homicide cases where the victim’s family and local prosecutors strongly opposed relief.

Why this matters: pardons and commutations restore civic rights and can affect employment, housing and firearm eligibility. The board’s recommendations go to the governor for final action; several recommendations included or excluded restoration of firearm rights, which matters for applicants wanting to work in security, hunt, or obtain certain licenses.

Key outcomes

- Pardon recommended, firearms denied: Tyrone (Paul) Dickens — board voted unanimously to recommend a pardon to the governor but to withhold restoration of firearm rights. Supporters at the hearing described long-term community service; the district attorney’s office filed opposition notes. The board cited community support and the applicant’s record of service while denying firearm restoration.

- Denied (unanimous): Anderson Hawkins — a 1992 homicide case where family members and law enforcement opposed relief; the board voted unanimously to deny the petitioner’s request.

- Denied (split): James Franks — a life sentence for second-degree murder; the board’s vote split (two commissioners supported commuting the sentence to 99 years with parole eligibility, two opposed), so the application failed to reach the required majority and was denied.

- Commutation recommended to governor: Theodore (Ted) Butler — the board voted to recommend commuting Butler’s life sentence to a 99-year term with immediate parole eligibility, citing long institutional programming, work as an ordained minister inside the institution and an accepted reentry plan.

- Denied (split/no majority): James Taylor — a life-sentence commutation request; the board did not reach the threshold to recommend relief after conflicting votes and opposition from victims/law enforcement.

- Pardons with restoration of firearms recommended: Raymond J. Martin Jr., (possession 2002); Carl Vaught (1974 possession with intent); John Hayes (illegal possession of stolen property); Scott Jones (1996 forgery) and several others — in each of these cases the board said applicants had substantial time without incidents, local community support and no outstanding opposition from law enforcement.

- Mixed outcomes in other cases: several applicants with older nonviolent records or long post-conviction clean records received favorable recommendations; others with more recent or violent histories were denied or received recommendations without firearm restoration.

What the board said

Board members repeatedly noted the difference between rehabilitation and the gravity of violent offenses. Commissioners praised community service and institutional programming for some applicants while emphasizing victim impact statements and prosecutor opposition in murder cases.

Next steps

All recommendations are advisory and go to the governor for final action. Applicants denied by the board may reapply according to the board’s published rules and timelines.

Votes at a glance (selected cases from the morning session)

- Tyrone Dickens (DOC 288851): Board recommendation to governor — pardon granted by board; firearms not restored (board vote unanimous). Supporters included Christian Creed, Sheriff Jay Russell and Richwood Mayor Gerald Brown. Victim/opposition filings were noted. (Recommendation: pardon; firearms: withheld.)

- Anderson Hawkins (VOC 321124): Application denied (unanimous). Family members of the victim and prosecutors strongly opposed relief.

- James Franks (DOC 299620): Application denied (no majority for commutation). Two commissioners voted to commute to 99 years with parole eligibility; two voted to deny on grounds of victim opposition and seriousness of the crime.

- Theodore Butler (DOC -- life case): Board recommended commutation to 99 years with immediate parole eligibility and a reentry plan; accepted by Parole Project for reentry services.

- Raymond J. Martin Jr. (DOC 454161): Board recommended a pardon with restoration of firearm rights (unanimous).

- Gaines (DOC 401478): Board recommended a pardon with restoration of firearm rights (unanimous).

- Carl Vaught (DOC 78447): Board recommended a pardon with restoration of firearm rights (unanimous).

- James Taylor (452097): Commutation request denied (no majority).

- John Hayes (535664): Pardon recommended with restoration of firearm rights (board unanimous).

- Scott Jones (forgery, 1996): Pardon recommended with restoration of firearm rights (unanimous).

- Randell Hall (domestic battery, Caddo Parish 2005): Pardon recommended with restoration of firearm rights (unanimous).

- Michael Milligan (possession, 2014): Board recommended a pardon with restoration of firearm rights after reviewing letters of support and institutional programming.

- Jose Pita (1976 burglary): Pardon recommendation with restoration of firearm rights (unanimous; very long cleansing period cited).

- Kobe Dominic Henderson (manslaughter, 2015): Application denied (no majority) after votes split and significant victim opposition.

What we tracked in the meeting

- Victim impact statements were read for multiple homicide cases; family opposition influenced several denials.
- The Parole Project (Channing Blake) presented reentry plans for multiple applicants and said reentry services were available if the board recommended relief.
- Wardens and prison staff presented institutional disciplinary records and program participation for many applicants.

Ending

The board recessed several times to go into executive session for confidential material and returned to announce votes. Recommendations will be transmitted to the governor’s office for final action according to the state’s statutory process.