HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2022.07.19 - 37491BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
July 19, 2022
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #22-208
Sponsored By: Robert Hoffman
Board of Commissioners - Resolution Urging the Governor of Michigan to Grant Clemency to Temujin
Kensu
Chairperson and Members of the Board:
WHEREAS in 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer denied Temujin Kensu's clemency request because there
was an ongoing investigation by the Michigan Attorney General's Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU); and
WHEREAS the investigation ended on May 17, 2022 but the attorney general's office found no new evidence
to support a claim of innocence by a man who was convicted of committing a murder in 1986 in a Port Huron
college parking lot; and
WHEREAS on May 25th, Congressman Levin, Congresswoman Tlaib and State Senator Stephanie Chang
released a statement pointing out how "deeply disappointed they are to learn that the Michigan Attorney
General's CrU, has declined to pursue the release of Temujin Kensu, an innocent Michigander who has been in
prison for more than three decades."; and
WHEREAS the Michigan Innocence Clinic and other advocates also argue Kensu was wrongly convicted of
killing the man; and
WHEREAS there were many problems with the trial, like lack of physical evidence linking Kensu to the crime
scene; there were no witnesses to the murder, and Kensu's court -appointed defense attorney had a drug
problem; and
WHEREAS the Governor's executive clemency authority is derived from Section 14 of Article V of the
Michigan Constitution of 1963, which states that the Governor shall have power to grant reprieves,
commutations, and pardons after convictions for all offenses, except cases of impeachment.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland Board of Commissioners urges the Governor of
Michigan to grant clemency to Temuji Kensu.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of this adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan and members of the Oakland County
State Legislature delegation.
Chairperson, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Robert Hoffman.
Date: July 19, 2022
David Woodward, Commissioner
Date: July 25, 2022
Hilarie Chambers, Deputy County Executive II
. &�� Date: July 26, 2022
Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2022-06-07 Full Board - Referred to Legislative Affairs & Government Operations Committee
2022-07-12 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations - recommend to Board
2022-07-19 Full Board
VOTE TRACKING
Motioned by Commissioner Kristen Nelson seconded by Commissioner Robert Hoffman to adopt the attached
Resolution: Urging the Governor of Michigan to Grant Clemency to Temujin Kensu .
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell,
Marcia Gershenson, William Miller III, Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Penny Luebs, Janet Jackson,
Robert Hoffman (13)
No: Michael Gingell, Eileen Kowall,
McGillivray, Adam Kochenderfer (8)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
Passed
ATTACHMENTS
None
Christine Long, Philip Weipert, Thomas Kuhn, Chuck Moss, Gary
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on July 19, 2022, with
the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.
i riti0l 44�
Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds