From January 2020 through November 2025, Omaha has granted mayoral pardons to more than 60 residents convicted of municipal violations. Lincoln has pardoned two. The disparity reflects fundamentally different thresholds and philosophies in how Nebraska’s two largest cities offer formal forgiveness for past mistakes and a path forward for residents whose criminal histories have limited employment and housing opportunities.
While presidential and state clemency programs dominate national discourse, these municipal pardon systems offer a direct avenue for residents to seal convictions from public view—a tool that can reshape prospects for employment, housing, and community participation.
Omaha and Lincoln have operated dramatically different mayoral pardon programs for residents convicted of municipal violations, with Omaha approving more than 60 pardons between January 2020 and November 2025, while Lincoln has approved just two in the same period, according to city records obtained by the Associated Press.
The programs offer formal forgiveness and the ability to seal convictions from public view—a tool that can reshape residents’ prospects for employment, housing, and access to professional licenses. A mayoral pardon does not erase a conviction but removes the barrier from routine background checks.
Jasmine Harris, who was convicted of misdemeanor assault and battery under an Omaha city ordinance in her early 20s, said the conviction foreclosed job opportunities despite her qualifications. After receiving a pardon from then-Mayor Jean Stothert in 2017, Harris went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in biology and now serves as vice president of development and external relations at RISE, a reentry nonprofit.
“It’s the anxiety that it brings back up, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to fill this out again. Is it going to be denied?’” Harris said of the employment application process before her pardon.
Municipal pardon programs remain relatively uncommon across the U.S., though states including Alabama, Missouri, and Montana outline city pardon power in their laws. According to the Nebraska Judicial Branch, mayoral pardons are only available in Lincoln and Omaha.
How the programs differ
Omaha’s pardon process has become notably expansive. In 2018, then-Mayor Stothert pushed to expand the list of eligible offenses to cover just about all city ordinances. The City Council approved the change. Under current Mayor John Ewing, a retired law enforcement officer, the city processes requests relatively promptly, with most receiving a response within a month or two, according to city records.
“If someone … made a mistake when they were a young person, and then they’re looking to be able to progress in their careers, the last thing we really need is something where they’ve done all the right things but they can’t get a job and be able to take care of their families,” Ewing said.
In Lincoln, the threshold remains high. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird declined an interview request, but city spokesperson Garret Swanson said in an email that the city attorney weighs the applicant’s record, the nature of their offense, and mitigating factors. Over the last five years, Lincoln has received 10 pardon request forms, with two approved.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln law professor Ryan Sullivan, whose Civil Clinic helps clients with pardon applications, said the disparity may reflect differences in how the programs are publicized and administered.
“There’s a significant number of Lincoln and Omaha citizens who could benefit from this, if it was a better advertised option for people to really get a fresh start,” Sullivan said.
The mechanics of redemption
In Omaha, the city prosecutor reviews requests and makes a recommendation to the mayor’s pardon board. The city typically requires five years without law enforcement contact before approving pardons for eligible offenses.
Omaha City Attorney Matt Kuhse, who previously served as city prosecutor, said he applied a generous view of the program. “These are municipal code violations. These aren’t like the crimes of the century,” he said. “I would look at it, see how long ago it was, and then kind of evaluate the facts of the case: What’s happened since then? Have they picked up any new serious charges?”
Stothert, reflecting on her tenure, said applicants often expressed genuine remorse in their letters. “If they are truly sincere about it, everybody deserves a second chance,” she said. “And I think what I read in these (application) letters is a lot of remorse.”
Both mayors acknowledged limits. Stothert said she applied especially strict scrutiny to requests involving domestic assault, animal neglect, and child neglect. Ewing said he will not pardon offenses involving sexual misconduct toward children and some types of violent crime.
Barriers and outcomes
Maurice Cannon received a mayoral pardon in 2024 for two misdemeanor assault and battery convictions from the 1990s. Health issues had led to the double amputation of his legs below the knee, and he said he feared for his personal safety and wanted to restore his right to own a firearm.
The pardon provided symbolic value but fell short of his practical needs. Nebraska law requires that firearm rights be restored by the state board, not a mayor. Cannon is working to pursue restoration through other channels.
“I felt good when they did it, because I could put some of those things behind me,” he said. “But I know I still will always have that regret, because I did it.”
Ryan Sullivan noted that the programs could reach far more residents if processes were streamlined and better publicized. Under former Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler, the law clinic submitted pardon requests with relative ease, Sullivan said. Under Gaylor Baird, response times have extended into years, and four requests filed from 2020 onward remain unanswered.
“We ultimately decided to decline to file any more, just because the process was too cumbersome,” Sullivan said.
Lincoln officials said they began requesting outside verification after receiving applications with inaccurate information. Sullivan said he was never notified of any inaccuracies in applications submitted by the clinic and has no reason to believe there were any.
The disparities between the cities suggest that many eligible residents may be unaware the option exists. In Omaha, city staff distribute applications through the public defender’s office and Legal Aid clinics. In Lincoln, the application is available on the mayor’s website.
“I just wish more people knew about it,” Kuhse said.