Miss. attorney general moves to block governor's pardons JACKSON, Miss. -- The state attorney general on Wednesday moved to block the release of some inmates pardoned by Gov. Haley Barbour in his last days in office, claiming the move may have violated the state Constitution. Attorney General Jim Hood said the law requires a legal notice of plans to pardon to be published 30 days prior to the action. He said his office couldn't find such a record. "Unfortunately our research has revealed that Gov. Barbour violated the Constitution," Hood told The Clarion-Ledger. We're seeking to stop the release of any prisoners. Hood told WLBT-TV in Jackson, Miss. that he planned to file an injunction at Hinds County Circuit. Read original story from WLBT.com On his last day as Mississippi governor, Barbour, a Republican, surprised friends and foes by granting more than 200 pardons, clemency or early release for people convicted of crimes including murder, rape and armed robbery. His actions included 19 people convicted of murder. Also included were four inmates who had worked at the governor's mansion doing odd jobs under a program that rewarded good behavior. Barbour acted on a total of 208 cases, according to information provided by the Mississippi Secretary of State's office. Among the pardoned was the brother of retired National Football League star quarterback Brett Favre. Earnest Scott Favre was convicted in 1996 of driving while intoxicated resulting in the death of his best friend. He was sentenced to a year of house arrest and two years probation. 'Seems very excessive' While pardons by outgoing governors and presidents are not unusual, the number and the types of crimes stand out, said Marty Wiseman, a Mississippi State University political scientist and director of the school's John C. Stennis Institute of Government. "That seems very excessive to me," Wiseman told The Associated Press. I don't recall this many crimes that serious being pardoned by anybody. Barbour has provided no public statement on the decisions. Former Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, also a Republican, has officially taken office as governor. Until this month, Barbour had issued only five pardons and three indefinite suspended sentences in eight years as governor.