Controversial Clemency: NJ Governor Grants Pardon to Son of Prominent Democratic Figure
As part of his farewell, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy pardoned Harris Jacobs, 28, the son of Atlantic City attorney and Democratic donor Joe Jacobs. In 2022, Harris Jacobs was convicted of fleeing the scene of a tragic collision that killed 76-year-old Orlando Fraga-Seruti.
Prosecutors said security footage showed Harris Jacobs exiting his car and leaning over hit Fraga-Seruti before driving away without calling police. Fraga-Seruti, a Cuban immigrant, was a security officer at Claridge and Sands Casinos, contributing to the community.
The jury found Harris Jacobs guilty, but Murphy’s office confirmed the pardon was issued early that morning, nullifying the conviction. Harris Jacobs avoided a five-to-ten-year prison sentence, drawing praise and criticism.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office challenged the ruling, saying politics shouldn’t trump law. The intervention of political power can weaken public trust in the justice system, officials said. The Jacobs family did not immediately comment on the pardon.
Joe Jacobs, Harris Jacobs’ father, raised a lot of money for former First Lady Tammy Murphy’s failed Senate candidacy. On his final day in office, Governor Murphy awarded 97 pardons and 51 commutations, the most in recent state history.
Among these acts, the ACLU-NJ applauded the governor for clemency for 16 of its clients. Officials claimed these methods reduce sentence inequities, especially for people who declined plea pleas or domestic abuse survivors who faced heavy penalties.
Pablo Acevedo, who rejected a 10-year plea offer for burglary, robbery, and conspiracy, was sentenced to 30 years. Acevedo will be released immediately after Murphy’s commute. Briann Lindsey and Germania Terrero, domestic abuse survivors who acted in self-defense or rejected plea offers, received commutations to address sentencing discrepancies.
The ACLU-NJ officials called the clemency proposals significant because they make New Jersey’s justice system more equal. They also advised the incoming administration under Governor Mikie Sherrill to prioritize clemency to remedy sentence inequities. In 2024, the state established the Clemency Project to reduce disproportionate punishments and ensure legal fairness.
Governor Murphy’s final-day pardons and commutations have raised questions about politics and justice, including reform and the controversy surrounding politically connected decisions. These actions remind us of the ongoing debate over justice system fairness, accountability, and executive authority.
Sources:
NJ Governor’s Office
Atlantic County Prosecutor
New Jersey ACLU
