In the News
Murphy was a clemency hero. Sherrill has to step up for NJ | Opinion
Jan. 28, 2026
When we closed the curtain on Gov. Phil Murphy’s tenure, he left behind some big shoes for Gov. Mikie Sherill to step into as her term began. As part of my work, I often speak with government officials who are wary of using their powers to give incarcerated people second chances due to their fear of political blowback. While it would have been easy for Murphy to sit on the sidelines, instead he followed through on his promises to expand access to pardons across the state and help alleviate the collateral consequences of past criminal convictions.