Welcome to Jim Morrison Pardon.com
Statute Charge Charge Type Disposition
798.02 LEWD & LASCIVIOUS BEHAVIOR MISDEMEANOR ACQUITTED BY JURY
800.03 INDECENT EXPOSURE MISDEMEANOR CONVICTED & CONCURRENT SETENCE
847.04 OPEN PROFANITY MISDEMEANOR CONVICTED BY JURY & CONCURRENT SETENCE
856.01 DRUNKENNESS MISDEMEANOR ACQUITTED BY JURY
Case Number 69-2355 State of Florida vs. James Douglas Morrison
August 10, 1970 (Trial By Jury)
October 30th, 1970 (Sentencing)
Case Number 69-2355 State of Florida vs. James Douglas Morrison
12-9-10 (Florida Parole and Clemency)
FULL PARDON - ABATEMENT AB INITIO
Statute Charge Charge Type Disposition
798.02 LEWD & LASCIVIOUS BEHAVIOR MISDEMEANOR FULL PARDON/CHARGE DISMISSED
800.03 INDECENT EXPOSURE MISDEMEANOR FULL PARDON/CHARGE DISMISSED
847.04 OPEN PROFANITY MISDEMEANOR FULL PARDON/CHARGE DISMISSED
856.01 DRUNKENNESS MISDEMEANOR FULL PARDON/CHARGE DISMISSED
"Mr. Morrison appealed his judgment and sentence; however, he died before the appeal was heard. His death prevented him from exercising his right to a direct appeal, a right given to every American by the United States Constitution. If his appeal had been heard, a reviewing court could have resolved the controversies surrounding his conviction.
In addition, at the time of Morrison’s death, a convicted defendant who died before his appeal was heard was entitled to have the conviction dismissed so that he was again presumed innocent. This doctrine, known as “abatement ab initio,” wiped the slate clean – as though the conviction had never taken place. A pardon corrects the fact that Mr. Morrison is now unable to take advantage of the presumption of innocence that is the cornerstone of the American criminal justice system."
Florida Governor Charlie Crist, 12-9-10
Photos by Associated Press/Joel Brodsky
Questions or comments, please e-mail JMP.com
This page was last updated: May 3, 2012
During the days of The Doors, Jim Morrison handled the bulk of the responsibility for the lyrics — as well as most of the controversy. In 2010, Florida’s Clemency Board and Gov. Charlie Crist pardoned the late Doors singer for two misdemeanor convictions stemming from a 1969 incident in which he allegedly exposed himself during a concert in Miami.
“I thought it was terrific,” Ray Manzarek said. “I talked to Charlie (Crist) on the phone and thanked him. The arrest was ridiculous. But you have to understand that in those days it was the battle between the lovers and the killers. A madness had loosed itself on the land.”
- Tallahassee Democrat 4-19-12
