Oklahoma’s Only
Presidential Pardon Attorney
Restore your Civil Rights after a Conviction in Federal Court
Vote, Own a Gun, and Keep Your Job
Experienced Attorneys and Flat Fees
Are You Ready to Restore Your Civil Rights?
We’re the Best. Seriously.
Our office files about half of the expungements and pardons in Oklahoma - more than any other attorney or law firm, by far. No one else even comes close to our experience level, period.
We have a 99.9% success rate.
Not only do we litigate more cases than anyone else, we also have a near-perfect 99.9% success rate, over 10 years of practice. Those results speak for themselves. (we are required to remind you that past case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.)
We have successfully pardoned thousands of crimes.
No criminal record is too difficult: we’ve done everything from simple bad checks, trafficking convictions, sexual abuse dismissals, and first-degree murder acquittals. We also post an anonymized list of recent results that we’ve had, so you can look for yourself.
Our Clients LOVE us.
You don’t have to take our word for it: we have a near perfect rating on Google, Facebook, and Avvo. Read what they have to say and decide for yourself.
We wrote the law, and we handle the big appellate cases.
Michael A. Risley wrote the 2014 and 2016 amendments to Oklahoma’s expungement laws, and he is at the forefront of the big appellate cases in our state. Read his biography. No other expungement and pardon attorney can match that experience.
We charge a flat fee and work on a timeline.
We want you to know how much you are going to pay and how long the process will take, because we want you to be happy. If another attorney offers a better price or timeline, we will match any written offer from a competitor.
Actual Feedback From Our Clients
Want to learn more about Federal Pardons?
What specifically is a Federal Pardon, and what does it do?
A federal pardon is an official statement of forgiveness issued by the President of the United States, with the assistance of the Office of the Pardon Attorney. It represents the President’s and the Pardon Attorney’s opinion that a convicted felon has "paid their dues" for their criminal past, and that they are welcomed back into the full rights of citizenship.
Day to day, a federal pardon can help a convicted felon do the following:
Own a firearm (non-violent felonies only);
Get a concealed carry license;
Become a gunsmith or firearm repairman;
Get a job despite the felony conviction;
Get a liquor, nursing, or other professional license;
Get a hazmat and other specialist endorsements on their CDL;
Be a juror and hold public office;
Vote in state and federal elections;
Travel internationally;
What is the difference between a state pardon and a federal pardon? Which one do I need?
A state pardon is issued by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma for state convictions. If your criminal case appears on OSCN.net, then you have a state conviction and you need a state pardon.
A federal pardon is issued by the President of the United States for federal or military convictions. If your criminal case appears on PACER (felonies and misdemeanors) or in your Veteran Records (for crimes prosecuted under the UCMJ), then you have a federal conviction and you need a federal pardon.
If you have both state and federal convictions, then you are required to get a state pardon first, before you apply for a federal pardon. More information on state pardons can be found on our Gubernatorial pardons page.
Why should I hire you instead of someone else?
We’re the Best. Seriously.
Our office files about half of the expungements and pardons in Oklahoma - more than any other attorney or law firm, by far. No one else even comes close to our experience level, period.
We have a 99.9% success rate.
Not only do we litigate more cases than anyone else, we also have a near-perfect 99.9% success rate, over 10 years of practice. Those results speak for themselves. (we are required to remind you that past case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.)
We have successfully pardoned thousands of crimes.
No criminal record is too difficult: we’ve done everything from simple bad checks, trafficking convictions, sexual abuse dismissals, and first-degree murder acquittals. We also post an anonymized list of recent results that we’ve had, so you can look for yourself.
Our Clients LOVE us.
You don’t have to take our word for it: we have a near perfect rating on Google, Facebook, and Avvo. Read what they have to say and decide for yourself.
We wrote the law, and we handle the big appellate cases.
Michael A. Risley wrote the 2014 and 2016 amendments to Oklahoma’s expungement laws, and he is at the forefront of the big appellate cases in our state. Read his biography. No other expungement and pardon attorney can match that experience.
We charge a flat fee and work on a timeline.
We want you to know how much you are going to pay and how long the process will take, because we want you to be happy. If another attorney offers a better price or timeline, we will match any written offer from a competitor.
Does a Federal Pardon restore a convicted felon's right to own a firearm? What about getting a Concealed Carry Permit?
Yes, a Federal Pardon restores the right to own a firearm, along with the right to perform the duties of a peace officer, gunsmith, or firearms repairman. It also authorizes you to obtain a Concealed Carry Permit under the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act. However, if you were convicted of one a “violent felony”, your gun rights above are not restored after a Federal Pardon. See 21 O.S. §1283(B) and 21 O.S. §1290.10(1).
How can a Pardon help a convicted felon get a job?
After your receive a pardon, your criminal record will be updated to show that you have been pardoned, in both the Court records of your case and on your OSBI background check. When you apply for a job and provide your employer with your certificate of pardon, which is signed by the President, they will look on your felony conviction in a much better light. Based on feedback from prior Clients, a pardon is very helpful in obtaining employment after a felony conviction, especially with larger companies and the state.
Also, a federal pardon is required for convicted felons to hold certain professional licenses required for employment - such as a liquor license; nursing, and other healthcare licenses; and hazmat and other specialist endorsements on a commercial driver's license (CDL), among others. For convicted felons who seek employment in fields that require a license, a federal pardon is a necessity.
What are the requirements to qualify for a Federal Pardon, what is the process, and how long does it take?
As of July 2021, the requirements for a federal pardon are as follows:
You have been convicted of a violation of Federal law or a military offense.
You have no pending charges.
If you were incarcerated, you must have been released from confinement at least five years ago.
If you were not incarcerated, and instead had probation, your sentencing occurred at least five years ago.
The process for a federal pardon is as follows:
First, we must complete the application: the federal pardon application itself must be completed. Our office will interview you to obtain the information needed to complete the application; we will gather the necessary documents from the courthouse where your conviction occurred; we will pull arrest records from all the states in which you lived; we will compile a civil and credit history for your application; and we will assist you in locating and collecting letters of reference from those persons who know you well.
Second, there is an FBI Investigation: after the federal pardon application is completed and submitted, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will then assign an investigating officer to complete a detailed inquiry into your personal background and current activities. Please note that this process is very detailed - as an example, we once had an investigating officer call our client's ex-wife to get their opinion of the client and their worthiness for a pardon. Once the investigation is completed, the officer compiles their findings into a report that is sent to the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
Third, the Office of the Pardon Attorney completes their review: Once the FBI investigation is completed and the federal pardon application has been received by the Office of the Pardon Attorney, the Pardon Attorney and staff complete their own review to ensure statutory and regulatory qualification of the individual. Afterwards, the application is then sent to the White House.
Finally, the President: The President and White House staff will also complete a review of the federal pardon application, the investigative report, and the recommendation of the Pardon Attorney. They then make their final decision without any other input.
In terms of how long the process can take, please remember that when you apply for a federal pardon, you are essentially asking the President of the United States for a favor. As such, the entire process moves at the President’s pace, and there is no maximum time limit or timeline that the President operates on.
Will a Pardon erase a convicted felon's criminal record? What is the difference between an expungement and a federal pardon?
No, a federal pardon will not erase your criminal record.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Congress has yet to pass a federal expungement bill. As such, there is no mechanism to have the record of a federal conviction expunged from your record, not matter if you have received a pardon or not.
As federal expungements would obviously be of great interest to our office, if the law on that issue ever changes, we will be among the first to know. If you would like to see a federal expungement bill passed, please contact your U.S. Representative and/or U.S. Senator. We already have.
Can I apply for a federal pardon for only the conviction that matters to me, or do I have to apply on all of them?
You have to apply for a federal pardon on all of your federal convictions. Failure to include all convictions in your application can be grounds for denial, so it is especially important that you hire an attorney who can help find your entire criminal record.
The Only Attorney to Hire If You Are Seeking a Federal Pardon
Our consultations are always free. Give us a call anytime, or fill out our contact form, and we can tell you exactly where you stand.
