Music

Jim Morrison pardoned for exposing himself at 1969 gig

by Ciaran Thompson

At Miami’s Dinner Key Auditorium on March 1, 1969, The Doors gave a performance that has since been described as “raucous” where lead vocalist Jim Morrison allegedly swore and exposed himself to the audience. Four days after the event took place and after several publications had reported the incident, Morrison was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior.

He was eventually convicted for profanity and indecent exposure and was sentenced to a $500 fine and six-month jail term.

Florida’s clemency board voted unanimously today to grant a posthumous pardon to Morrison who was appealing the conviction when in died in Paris three years later.

In a statement read aloud to the clemency board, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said, “His (Morrison) death prevented him from exercising his right to a direct appeal, a right given to every American by the United States Constitution. If his appeal had been heard, a reviewing court could have resolved the controversies surrounding his conviction.

“A pardon corrects the fact that Mr. Morrison is now unable to take advantage of the presumption of innocence that is the cornerstone of the American criminal justice system.” [New York Times]