From the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, this is Free Expression with Jerry Baker.

Hello and welcome to Free Expression from the opinion page of the Wall Street Journal.

I'm Jerry Baker, editor at large of the journal.

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This week, pardons, law do, you're listening. This week,

pardons, lawfare and the future of American justice. The big news this week was Joe Biden's

unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter. Now, it says much about the state of trust in our political

leaders, that the decision was hardly unexpected, despite the president's repeated insistence that he wouldn't

pardon Hunter.

Yeah, what was most striking about the move was that it not only keeps Hunter from going to

jail for crimes to which he's already pled guilty, it of course also shields him from prosecution

for any crime he may have committed at any point in the last 10 years.

A period that starts with his stint at Burisma, you'll recall the Ukrainian Energy Company,

where he served when his father was vice president.

Also this week, Donald Trump picked Cash Patel.

A top aide and fierce critic of the deep state, and particularly federal law enforcement,

has his choice to head the Federal

Bureau of Investigation when the current incumbent, Christopher Ray, leaves or is removed from

the post, presumably when Mr. Trump takes office.

The pardon and the flurry of nominations by the President-elect have placed renewed attention

on the administration of American justice.

For four years, federal and state prosecutors have

...