Corzine agreed to parole a man convicted of a 1985 murder of a suspected drug dealer that some legal experts believe he did not commit.
In partially commuting Quincy Spruell's sentence, Corzine agreed to release the 43-year-old more than five years ahead of his 30-year sentence.
Corzine said he took the action because there are serious doubts about the conviction.
Corzine also lifted a lifetime ban on running for public office for former Newark Councilwoman Dana Rone. She was removed from office after she interfered with a traffic stop involving her nephew in 2006.
Corzine issued 12 pardons for nonviolent offenses that were at least a decade old, including drug cases.
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Information from: The Star-Ledger, http://www.nj.com/starledger
