Murphy’s total clemency count reached 455, surpassing the combined total of every New Jersey governor from the last 30 years
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, In the final hours of his administration, outgoing New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy delivered a controversial parting gift. Just moments before Mikie Sherrill’s inauguration on January 20, 2026, Murphy signed off on 148 clemency grants, cementing his legacy as a champion of criminal justice reform—or, as critics argue, a provider of last-minute political favors.
