{
12)
son, or by a body of Commissioners, of whom the
Lord Chancellor is usually one. The Houses of
Parliament communicate with the Sovereign by
addresses.
The Sovereign appoints, either directly or by
delegation, all Judges. In the case of the superior
Judges, except the Lord Chancellor, they are
appointed for life, and cannot be removed except
for misbehaviour, and then only upon an address
of both Houses of Parliament. All prosecutions
for offences run in the name of the Sovereign ; and
the Sovereign can, with few exceptions, pardon all
offenders against Criminal Law, either before or
after conviction. This prerogative cannot be exer
cised in the case of an impeachment by the Commons
in Parliament ; or in that of committing any
person to prison out of the realm contrary to the
Habeas Corpus Act; or where the pardon would
inflict an injury on an innocent person. It is
usually exercised (1) where fresh evidence tending
to exculpate the accused is discovered after the
trial ; (2) where it is discovered that evidence relied
upon at the trial was untrustworthy, and that
justice has consequently miscarried ; (3) where the
judge himself sees reason to make recommendations
against a finding of a jury; and (4) in
political offences after the danger has subsided. A
pardon may be free or conditional ; and is frequently
offered as an inducement to participators
in a crime to turn Queen's evidence.