New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has vetoed legislation that would have expedited expungements for people with certain cannabis-related offenses on their record. On Friday, Murphy announced that he had shot down the plan because it did not go far enough, and offered suggestions to lawmakers on how they could craft expungement legislation that was more likely to get past his desk.
“I applaud the sponsors’ commitment to social justice, and their efforts to correct historic wrongs inflicted on our communities by a criminal justice system that has at times unfairly, and harshly punished individuals,” Murphy said. “I believe, however, that this bill could go further in order to more fully and effectively achieve its intended goals,” he added.
An edited version of the bill has been presented for approval by the state’s House and Senate. The governor’s suggestions to lawmakers on improving the bill included looking at Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Law, which makes criminal cases that are 10 years or older invisible to anyone besides official law enforcement representatives.
Sponsors of the original bill contend Murphy’s decision, saying that his plan unjustly caps the number of offenses an expungement-eligible individual can have on their record.