State Government: Mississippi

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has granted clemency to Maurice Taylor, who was serving a 20-year sentence for conspiracy to sell a Schedule III substance even though state law capped the penalty at five years, weeks after issuing similar clemency to his brother Marcus Taylor. Both men pleaded guilty in 2015 under plea bargains, but the Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled Marcus Taylor’s 15-year term illegal earlier this year, and Reeves said he acted after Maurice’s post-conviction counsel recently contacted his office with case documents, ordering Maurice’s release within five days.