California IN BRIEF : SANTA ROSA : Wilson to Consider Clemency for Harris

Gov. Pete Wilson said he is willing to consider clemency for Robert Alton Harris, but has not decided whether to schedule a hearing for the murderer who faces execution next month in the San Quentin gas chamber. Wilson said nothing in the law requires him to hold a hearing for Harris, but he sharply disputed a suggestion that he would not seriously consider clemency. “Clemency, by definition, is an act of executive mercy. It doesn’t go either to the question of guilt--that is long since settled--nor does it go to the wisdom of capital punishment. It is purely and simply an act of executive mercy,” Wilson said. Even if Wilson decided to grant clemency to Harris, his decision would require approval of at least four members of the California Supreme Court to cancel Harris’ scheduled April 21 execution. The approval is needed because Harris was previously convicted of manslaughter.