LEGITIMACY OF CLEMENCY IN THE AGE OF AUTOMATED SIGNATURE: DOCTRINE, PRACTICE, AND POLITICS

This paper analyzes the legal validity of presidential pardons signed via autopen, a method that has sparked legal and political debate. The objective was to assess whether automated signatures affect the validity of clemency acts under U.S. constitutional and precedent law. The study applied comparative legal analysis, expert commentary, and historical jurisprudence. Findings indicate that the U.S. Constitution imposes no formal requirements on the form of signature, and courts recognize the president’s will as the decisive factor. These results highlight the political nature of recent challenges and suggest future regulation of autopen usage.