ÿWPCÔ ®jgÙ @aë1ü BÔÕñYi˜ dRïd{1ícYeÂÿéKÓòΚæ˜ZâÜf´Ó×¢˜T,gÃgld+†‹˜tŸ95'ÏnÒ®­ðè"gìšvQÌ‚ø¬Ež¬V†äã]S”ßI†ÿ"Ì=ý—g`hè L®X§È?§ílé‹%Žo‰uXÿYmm ¾öõ ä^üúLöÆ;ó É(òù„ª…š…Zõ›l ±l"j«Œ¬tªyG3Üq€:YiB†»î‹‡Økåóæ*{fV Ènx'ýö²Ã–ØÐÓ„ò6‘-A3]Tâ‘ûQuöÇ |*²tîÃ(BèVü@àðRzg 6ˆxsN±’wÖ!_´¡âïŒvsô•–¡{™ä4 ?Úÿ>ª!žºE‘\jkõ30ˆašÍF=~ûj~äõéé‘Ù/PLHø$7c¯Çbr(@ëÊ5¿ØIB¹Ä³Û mžÌ D™ÿmÏGcvQ^×A,ã•>‰3Æ.«”1²4\+’œGîÂ!G/÷RLÉuÀܰáÐgóæ7Óö¦rZ¡Ÿ×íÈç_g1ûè,Ÿ"_.-™Àçð¯ô)ÿ§8@GE~1^AcÃX¦Lˆ lî/¤]b %\ëb 0ˆMUNÕB# -eÄ’ zVÒÐÏ¢ëq^ \whÆlÆ2Æøƾ4„N˜š©E« m­#ÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ 0D……………bÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ 0ëÑÑÑÑ B¼¼ 0¤Ù D3} D-° 0KÝÝ AS(Æ{ 0¤A 0Då A«)» áÝ ƒR8$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô©¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝThe€trial€court€added,€ð ðThis€Court€would€without€reservation€grant€the€petition€to€expunge€if€so€authorized.ðð(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular 8Ý ƒR8$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô©¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝThe€statute€also€provides€that,€ð ð[a]ll€public€records€of€a€person€who€has€been€convicted€of€an€offense€that€wasÐ ° Ðcommitted€prior€to€such€personððs€twenty„first€birthday€shall,€upon€petition€by€such€person€to€the€court€having€jurisdictionÐ tÄ Ðover€the€original€conviction,€be€removed€and€destroyed€if€such€person:€€(A)€Petitions€for€destruction€within€one€(1)€yearÐ 8ˆ Ðof€April€25,€2000;€(B)€Has€not€been€convicted€of€an€offense€except€for€the€offense€to€which€the€petition€pertains;€(C)€WasÐ üL Ðnot€convicted€of€a€sexual€offense€as€defined€by€ðð€40„39„102(3);€(D)€Was€granted€a€gubernatorial€pardon€for€such€offenseÐ À Ðbetween€January€1,€1998€and€December€31,€1998;€and€(E)€Pays€a€fee€to€be€established€by€the€court€for€the€destructionÐ „Ô Ðof€such€public€records;€provided€such€fee€shall€not€exceed€twenty„five€dollars€($25.00).ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„32„Ð H ˜ Ð101(a)(6).€€This€provision€of€the€statute€is€not€applicable€in€the€case€before€us€because€the€Appellant€did€not€petition€theÐ  \ Ðtrial€court€by€April€25,€2001,€and€because€the€pardon€was€not€granted€until€the€year€2000.€€ #Ý ƒR8$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô©¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔRecords€may€also€be€expunged€where€the€State€enters€a€nolle€prosequi€in€the€defendantððs€case.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€CodeÐ ° ÐAnn.€ðð€40„32„101(a)(3). ºÝ ƒR8$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô©¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝThe€application€of€this€rule€is€particularly€persuasive€here€because€the€legislature€has€clearly€considered€theÐ ° Ðremedy€of€expungement€following€an€executive€pardon€and€determined€that€it€is€available€only€under€extremely€limitedÐ tÄ Ðcircumstances.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„32„101(a)(6). ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt ÅÝ ƒR8$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô©¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝWe€will€assume€for€the€purposes€of€this€argument€that€the€Appellantððs€reference€to€a€ð ðsuccessful€appealðð€meansÐ ° Ðan€appeal€resulting€in€a€reversal€and€dismissal€of€the€conviction,€as€opposed€to€a€reversal€and€remand€for€a€new€trial,€orÐ tÄ Ða€reduction€of€the€conviction€to€a€lesser„included€offense.€ áÝ ƒR8$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô©¥ò»»ÔÝ  ÝThe€governorððs€power€to€pardon€stems€from€Tennesseeððs€constitution.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Const.€Art.€III,€ðð€6.¼œ7-s Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 53j1,o¦°¢§3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4050ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G28$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ -»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô©¥ò»»Ô d(|3ÿb$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ -»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÿb$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ -»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ -»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼ -»»»ÔÑ8€K¡XXdì»»d8Ñà@ttìàÔ‡î ¬î»¼ -ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼ -»îî ¬ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Óà @ àà @` àJuly€23,€2002€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XK¡X»¼ -ÔÌò òÔ#†¼ -»XXK¡#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€v.€JONATHAN€BLANCHARDÔ‡XK¡X»¼ -Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Criminal€Court€for€Greene€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€8606€€€€€€James€E.€Ô_ÔBecknerÔ_Ô,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2001„00314„CCA„R3„CDÐ ¥õ  ÐSeptember€23,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ‘á  ÐßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€Appellant,€Jonathan€Blanchard,€was€convicted€in€1988€of€the€sale€or€delivery€of€cocaine€andÐ xÈ  Ðsentenced€to€seven€years€in€prison.€€Following€the€successful€completion€of€his€sentence,€theÐ d´ ÐAppellant€was€granted€a€pardon€by€the€governor€of€Tennessee.€€The€Appellant€subsequentlyÐ P  Ðpetitioned€for€an€expungement€of€all€public€records€relating€to€his€arrest€and€conviction.€€The€trialÐ <Œ Ðcourt€denied€the€Appellantððs€petition€and€the€Appellant€appealed€as€of€right.€€We€affirm€the€judgmentÐ (x Ðof€the€trial€court.Ð d ÐÓÌÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€Affirmedó óÐ ì< ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼ -»àXK¡#ÔÔ‡XK¡X.¼ -ÔDavid€H.€Welles,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJerry€L.€Smithóó€and€òòJoe€G.€Riley,Ð Ä ÐJJ.óó,€joined.Ð ° ÐÌKeith€D.€Stewart,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Jonathan€Blanchard.Ð ˆØ ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Elizabeth€B.€Ô_ÔMarneyÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Ð `° Ðand€C.€Berkeley€Bell,€District€Attorney€General,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð L œ ÐÓ²ÓÌà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼ -»XXK¡á#ÔÔ‡XK¡X»¼ -ÔÐ $"t! ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼ -»XXK¡_ #ÔÔ‡XK¡X»¼ -ÔÓ  Óà  àThe€Appellant€is€an€exemplary€example€of€rehabilitation.€€Convicted€in€1988€on€a€drugÐ ü#L# Ðcharge€while€in€college,€the€Appellant€served€eighteen€months€in€prison€before€being€granted€earlyÐ è$8 $ Ðparole.€€While€on€parole,€the€Appellant€returned€to€college€and€received€a€degree€in€chemistry.€€TheÐ Ô%$!% ÐAppellant€then€pursued€graduate€degrees,€earning€a€masterððs€degree€and€a€Ph.D.€in€chemistry.€€TheÐ À&"& ÐAppellant€then€attended€law€school,€earning€his€J.D.€in€2000.€€He€has€not€been€arrested€since€1988.Ð ¬'ü"' ÐÌà  àThe€Appellant€sought€and€obtained€an€executive€pardon€from€Governor€Don€Ô_ÔSundquistÔ_Ô€inÐ „)Ô$) ÐDecember€2000.€€He€subsequently€filed€a€petition€in€the€court€that€convicted€him,€seekingÐ p*À%* Ðâ âexpungement€of€his€records€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€40„32„101.€€The€trialÐ \+¬&+ý ÐÔ_Ôcourt€reluctantly€denied€the€petition€after€finding€ð ðno€provision€under€the€law€for€expungement€afterÐ ° Ða€pardon.ðð׃×Ý ƒ)#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€This€appeal€followed.Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àThe€issue€of€whether€a€convicted€felon€may€obtain€expungement€of€his€or€her€criminal€recordÐ tÄ Ðfollowing€an€executive€pardon€appears€to€be€a€matter€of€first€impression€in€Tennesseeððs€appellateÐ `° Ðcourts.€€After€extensive€research€in€multiple€jurisdictions,€we€are€constrained€to€agree€with€the€trialÐ L œ Ðcourt€that€the€Appellant€is€not€currently€entitled€to€have€his€criminal€record€expunged.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àWe€begin€our€analysis,€as€we€must,€with€the€statutory€language€at€issue.€€TennesseeððsÐ  ` Ðexpungement€statute€provides,€in€pertinent€part,€thatÐ ü L  Ðà  àà8 ` à[a]ll€public€records€of€a€person€who€has€been€charged€with€aÐ è 8  Ðmisdemeanor€or€a€felony,€and€which€charge€has€been€dismissed,€or€aÐ Ô$  Ðno€true€bill€returned€by€a€grand€jury,€or€a€verdict€of€not€guilty€returnedÐ À  Ðby€a€jury€or€a€conviction€which€has€by€appeal€been€reversed,€and€allÐ ¬ü  Ðpublic€records€of€a€person€who€was€arrested€and€released€withoutÐ ˜è  Ðbeing€charged,€shall,€upon€petition€by€that€person€to€the€court€havingÐ „Ô  Ðjurisdiction€in€such€previous€action,€be€removed€and€destroyedÐ pÀ Ðwithout€cost€to€such€person[.]Ð\¬` x` x ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„32„101(a)(1).׃T×Ý ƒ)#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€analyzing€this€language,€we€recognize€that€Ð 4„ Ðà  àà8 ` à[a]€ð ðbasic€rule€of€statutory€construction€is€to€ascertain€and€give€effectÐ  p Ðto€the€intention€and€purpose€of€the€legislature.ðð€€In€determiningÐ  \ Ðlegislative€intent€and€purpose,€a€court€must€not€ð ðunduly€restrict[]€orÐ øH Ðexpand[]€a€statuteððs€coverage€beyond€its€intended€scope.ðð€€Rather,€aÐ ä4 Ðcourt€ascertains€a€statuteððs€purpose€from€the€plain€and€ordinaryÐ Ð  Ðmeaning€of€its€language,€ð ðwithout€forced€or€subtle€construction€thatÐ ¼  Ðwould€limit€or€extend€the€meaning€of€the€language.ððШø` x` x ÐÌòòGleaves€v.€Checker€Cab€Transit€Corp.,€Inc.óó,€15€S.W.3d€799,€802„03€(Tenn.€2000)€(citations€omitted).€Ð €Ð ÐWe€note€that€our€supreme€court€has€previously€found€that,€ð ð[t]he€intent€of€the€legislature€in€enactingÐ l¼ Ðthe€[expungement]€statute€.€.€.€was€to€prevent€a€citizen€from€bearing€the€stigma€of€having€beenÐ X ¨ Ðcharged€with€a€criminal€offense,€òòwhere€he€was€acquitted€of€the€charge€or€prosecution€of€the€chargeÐ D!” Ðwas€abandoned.óóðð€€òòState€v.€Doeóó,€588€S.W.2d€549,€552€(Tenn.€1979)€(emphasis€added).€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòStateÐ 0"€  Ðv.€John€Wayne€Slateóó,€No.€03C01„9511„CC„00352,€1996€Tenn.€Crim.€App.€LEXIS€665,€at€*5Ð ° Ð(Knoxville,€Oct.€18,€1996)€(finding€that€ð ð[t]he€expunction€statute€appears€to€provide€relief€only€inÐ œì Ðsituations€where,€for€the€reasons€stated€therein,€criminal€charges€fail€to€result€in€any€conviction.ðð)€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àThus,€the€statute€provides€for€the€expungement€of€criminal€records€where€the€suspect€hasÐ `° Ðbeen€charged€in€four€specific€situations:€€upon€dismissal€of€the€charge,€upon€a€return€of€no€true€bill,Ð L œ Ðupon€a€verdict€of€not€guilty,€and€upon€the€reversal€of€conviction€on€appeal.׃×Ý ƒ)#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Accordingly,€ourÐ 8 ˆ Ðsupreme€court€has€recognized€that€our€expungement€statute€ð ðauthorizes€one€who€has€òòsuccessfullyóóÐ $ t Ðòòdefendedóó€a€criminal€charge€to€have€all€public€records€of€the€case€expunged€.€.€.€.ðð€€òòUnderwood€v.Ð  ` ÐStateóó,€529€S.W.2d€45,€46€(Tenn.€1975).€€The€statute€does€not€provide,€except€under€very€limitedÐ ü L  Ðcircumstances€not€applicable€here,€for€expungement€upon€conviction€and€the€subsequent€grant€of€anÐ è 8  Ðexecutive€pardon.€€A€fundamental€rule€of€statutory€construction€is€that€ð ðthe€mention€of€one€subjectÐ Ô$  Ðin€a€statute€means€the€exclusion€of€other€subjects€that€are€not€mentioned.ðð€€òòState€v.€Harkinsóó,€811Ð À  ÐS.W.2d€79,€82€(Tenn.€1991).€€Pursuant€to€that€rule,€we€are€forced€to€conclude€that€the€legislatureððsÐ ¬ü  Ðfailure€to€mention€the€grant€of€an€expungement€under€the€facts€before€us,€while€mentioningÐ ˜è  Ðnumerous€other€grounds,€serves€to€exclude€the€instant€pardon€as€a€basis€for€the€remedy€sought.׃×Ý ƒ)#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àThe€Appellant€argues€that€ð ðthe€sentencing€court€had€discretion€to€grant€the€petition€becauseÐ \¬ Ðno€express€prohibition€exists.ðð€€We€respectfully€disagree.€€Under€the€same€analysis€just€applied,€theÐ H˜ Ðlegislatureððs€exclusion€of€the€trial€courtððs€discretion€as€a€basis€upon€which€to€grant€expungement,Ð 4„ Ðresults€in€a€finding€that€the€trial€court€has€no€such€discretion.€€We€cannot€imply€discretion€whereÐ  p Ðnone€exists.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòState€v.€McCaryóó,€815€S.W.2d€220,€222€(Tenn.Crim.App.€1991)€(holding€thatÐ  \ Ðthe€trial€court€has€no€discretion€to€deny€expungement€where€the€Appellant€is€statutorily€entitled€toÐ øH Ðsame).€€This€argument€is,€therefore,€without€merit.Ð ä4 ÐÌà  à€€€€Ô#†¼ -»XXK¡½ #ÔÔ€XK¡X»¼ -ÔThe€Appellant€also€argues€that€ð ð[a]€full€and€unconditional€pardon€is€equivalent€to€aÐ ¼  Ðsuccessful€appeal€through€the€judiciary.ðð׃ ,×Ý ƒ)#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Again,€we€must€respectfully€disagree.€€An€appeal€resultingÐ ¨ø Ðin€a€reversal€and€dismissal€of€the€conviction€is€the€functional€equivalent€of€a€ð ðnot€guiltyðð€verdict.€Ð ”ä ÐThat€is,€the€defendant€is€judicially€determined€to€have€been€acquitted€of€the€crime€at€issue.€€ThereÐ €Ð Ðis€a€significant€and€fundamental€difference,€however,€€between€an€acquittal€and€a€pardon.€€As€pointedÐ l¼ Ðout€by€the€United€States€Court€of€Appeals€for€the€Third€Circuit,€Ð X ¨ Ðà  àà8 ` àPardon€implies€guilt.€€If€there€be€no€guilt,€there€is€no€ground€forÐ D!” Ðforgiveness.€€It€is€an€appeal€to€executive€clemency.€€It€is€asked€as€aÐ 0"€  Ðmatter€of€favor€to€the€guilty.€€It€is€granted€not€of€òòrightóó€but€of€òògraceóó.€Ð ° ÐA€party€is€acquitted€on€the€ground€of€innocence;€he€is€pardonedÐ œì Ðthrough€favor.ЈØ` x` x ÐÌòòUnited€States€v.€Noonanóó,€906€F.2d€952,€958€(3rd€Cir.€1990)€(quoting€òòCook€v.€Freeholders€ofÐ `° ÐMiddlesexóó,€2€Dutch.€(N.J.)€326,€331,€333€(1857)).€€Indeed,€the€Appellantððs€own€pardon€contains€theÐ L œ Ðlanguage€that€he€ð ðbe€granted€a€pardon€of€òòforgivenessóó€.€.€.€.ðð€(emphasis€added).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àOur€legislature,€too,€has€recognized€the€distinction€between€innocence€of€the€crime€andÐ  ` Ðforgiveness€for€having€committed€it.€€Rather€than€granting€a€pardon,€the€governor€ð ðmay€grantÐ ü L  Ðexoneration€to€any€person€whom€the€governor€finds€òòdid€not€commit€the€crimeóó€for€which€such€personÐ è 8  Ðwas€convicted.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„27„109(a)€(emphasis€added).€€Upon€a€grant€of€exoneration,Ð Ô$  Ðthe€records€of€arrest,€indictment€and€conviction€shall€automatically€be€expunged.€€òòId.óó€ðð€40„27„109(b).€Ð À  ÐNo€such€provision€is€contained€in€the€statute€recognizing€the€governorððs€power€to€pardon.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óóÐ ¬ü  Ððð€40„27„101€et.€seq.׃ ×Ý ƒ)#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Similarly,€our€court€of€appeals€has€recognized€thatÐ ˜è  Ðà  àà8 ` à[a]€valid€reason€exists€for€distinguishing€between€expunged€pretrialÐ „Ô  Ðdiversion€records€and€expunged€judicial€diversion€records.€€PersonsÐ pÀ Ðparticipating€in€judicial€diversion€programs€have€been€found€guilty€ofÐ \¬ Ðthe€offense€for€which€they€were€charged.€€Accordingly,€they€no€longerÐ H˜ Ðenjoy€the€presumption€of€innocence€with€regard€to€the€charge.€€On€theÐ 4„ Ðother€hand,€persons€on€pretrial€diversion€have€never€been€foundÐ  p Ðguilty.€€They€retain€their€presumption€of€innocence€because€they€haveÐ  \ Ðnot€been€required€to€plead€to€or€to€stand€trial€on€the€charge.òòóóÐøH` x` x ÐÌòòPizzillo€v.€Pizzilloóó,€884€S.W.2d€749,€755€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994)€(footnote€omitted).Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àWe€similarly€reject€the€Appellantððs€contention€that,€as€a€result€of€the€pardon,€he€ð ðhas€neverÐ ¨ø Ðbeen€convicted.ðð€€On€the€contrary,€the€Appellant€òòhasóó€been€convicted,€and€remains€convicted,Ð ”ä Ðirrespective€of€the€pardon.€€The€Appellant€points€to€an€opinion€of€Tennesseeððs€attorney€general,Ð €Ð Ðwhich€states€that€ð ða€full€and€absolute€pardon€ððreleases€the€offense€and€obliterates€it€in€legalÐ l¼ Ðcontemplation.ðððð€€Tenn.€Op.€Atty.€Gen.€No.€82„508€(Nov.€9,€1982)€(quoting€òòFite€v.€State€ex€rel.Ð X ¨ ÐSnideróó,€114€Tenn.€646,€656,€88€S.W.€941€(1905)).€€òòSee€alsoóó€Tenn.€Op.€Atty.€Gen.€No.€79„322a€(JulyÐ D!” Ð19,€1979)€(stating€that€ð ð[a]€full€pardon€not€only€relieves€the€punishment,€but€also€blots€out€ofÐ 0"€  Ðexistence€the€guilt€of€the€offender€so€that€in€the€eye€of€the€law€he€is€as€innocent€as€if€he€had€neverÐ #l! Ðcommitted€the€offense.ðð)€€We€note€first€that€opinions€of€the€state€attorney€general€are€merely€advisoryÐ $X" Ðand€do€not€constitute€legal€authority€binding€on€this€Court.€€òòSeeóó€òòWashington€County€Bd.€ofÐ ô$D # ÐEducation€v.€MarketAmerica,€Inc.óó,€693€S.W.2d€344,€348€(Tenn.€1985).€€Second,€the€authority€reliedÐ à%0!$ Ðon€by€the€attorney€general€in€both€of€these€opinions€relied,€in€turn,€on€òòEx€Parte€Garlandóó,€71€U.S.€333,Ð Ì&"% Ð18€L.Ed.€366€(1867).€€òòGarlandóó€contains€dictum€stating€thatÐ ¸'#& Ðà  àà8 ` à[a]€pardon€reaches€both€the€punishment€prescribed€for€the€offense€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€guilt€of€the€offender;€and€when€the€pardon€is€full,€it€releases€theÐ )à$( Ðpunishment€and€blots€out€of€existence€the€guilt,€so€that€in€the€eye€ofÐ ° Ðthe€law€the€offender€is€as€innocent€as€if€he€had€never€committed€theÐ œì Ðoffense.ЈØ` x` x ÐÌ71€U.S.€at€380.€€By€1915,€however,€the€United€States€Supreme€Court€had€rejected€this€premise,Ð `° Ðfinding€instead€that,€rather€than€blotting€out€guilt,€the€acceptance€of€a€pardon€implies€a€confessionÐ L œ Ðof€guilt.€€òòSeeóó€òòBurdick€v.€United€Statesóó,€236€U.S.€79,€91,€3d€S.Ct.€267,€59€L.Ed.€476,€480€(1915).€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àNumerous€state€courts€have€also€recognized€that€a€pardon€does€not€eradicate€the€underlyingÐ  ` Ðconviction€but€rather€releases€the€defendant€from€further€punishment.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòPeople€v.€Thonóó,€746Ð ü L  ÐN.E.2d€1225,€1230€(Ill.€App.€2€Dist.€2001);€òòRandall€v.€Florida€Dept.€of€Law€Enforcementóó,€791€So.2dÐ è 8  Ð1238,€1245€(Fla.€App.€1€Dist.€2001),€òòreviewóó€òògrantedóó€817€So.2d€849€(Fla.€Apr.€12,€2002);€òòStorcellaÐ Ô$  Ðv.€Stateóó,€296€N.J.Super.€238,€244,€686€A.2d€789,€792€(App.Div.€1997);€òòState€v.€Skinneróó,€Del.€Supr.,Ð À  Ð632€A.2d€82,€84„85€(1993);€òòPrichard€v.€Battleóó,€178€Va.€455,€465,€17€S.E.2d€393,€397€(1941).€€òòButÐ ¬ü  Ðsee,€e.g.óó,€òòState€v.€Bergmanóó,€558€N.E.2d€1111,€1113„1114€(Ind.€App.€2€Dist.1990)€(grant€of€executiveÐ ˜è  Ðclemency€serves€to€return€offender€to€status€of€innocence€as€if€he€had€never€committed€offense);Ð „Ô  ÐòòState€v.€Morrisóó,€55€Ohio€St.2d€101,€378€N.E.2d€708,€711€(1978)€(ð ða€full€pardon€not€only€results€inÐ pÀ Ða€remission€of€the€punishment€and€the€guilt,€but€also€a€remission€of€the€crime€itself.ðð).€€Upon€ourÐ \¬ Ðreview€of€these€cases€and€other€legal€authority,€we€agree€with€our€neighbor€state€of€Florida€that,Ð H˜ Ðð ðwhile€a€full€pardon€restores€oneððs€civil€rights€and€remits€all€punishment€associated€with€theÐ 4„ Ðconviction,€it€does€not€obliterate€the€fact€of€the€commission€of€the€crime€and€the€conviction€thereof;Ð  p Ðnor€does€it€wash€out€the€moral€stain.€€In€other€words,€it€involves€forgiveness€and€not€forgetfulness.ðð€Ð  \ ÐòòRandallóó,€791€So.2d€at€1244€(quotation€marks€and€citations€omitted).€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòSkinneróó,€632€A.2d€atÐ øH Ð84€(ð ðA€pardon€ððinvolves€forgiveness€and€not€forgetfulness€and€it€does€not€ð ðwipe€the€slate€clean.ðððððð)Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àFinally,€the€Appellant€argues€that€the€trial€court€has€ð ðjurisdictional€authority€to€orderÐ ¼  Ðexpungement€on€the€basis€of€the€unconditional€pardon€alone,ðð€and€that€ð ð[n]o€further€statutoryÐ ¨ø Ðauthority€is€required.ðð€€We€disagree.€€Our€supreme€court€has€recognized€that€ð ðcontrol€of€the€use€ofÐ ”ä Ð[criminal]€records€is€properly€a€legislative€function,€not€a€judicial€function.ðð€€òòUnderwoodóó,€529Ð €Ð ÐS.W.2d€at€47.€€Our€legislature€has€determined€under€what€conditions€expungement€is€merited,€andÐ l¼ Ðwe€are€bound€by€our€legislatureððs€decision.€€The€Appellantððs€argument€is€without€merit.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àThe€Appellant€in€this€case€has€made€a€commendable€and€remarkable€recovery€from€aÐ 0"€  Ðyouthful,€but€nevertheless€serious,€error.€€We€applaud€his€outstanding€achievements.€€In€consideringÐ #l! Ðthe€Appellantððs€contentions,€however,€we€must€conclude€that€there€is€no€authority€for€expungementÐ $X" Ðof€his€criminal€records€on€the€basis€of€his€executive€pardon.€€Accordingly,€the€trial€court€did€not€errÐ ô$D # Ðin€denying€the€Appellantððs€petition.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð )à$( Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€H.€WELLES,€JUDGE