No decision yet on Pollard’s parole conditions after appeal
A federal appeals court in New York heard an appeal from Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard on Wednesday and decided not to give an immediate ruling.
Pollard appeal is of US District Judge Katherine Forrest’s decision to keep in place restrictive parole conditions that were imposed when he was released from prison on November 20, 2015, after serving 30 years of a life sentence for spying for Israel.
The conditions prevent Pollard from leaving his New York home after 7 p.m. or before 7 a.m., force him to submit any computer he uses for inspection, and require him to wear a GPS monitoring device that forces him to violate the Sabbath.
Pollard’s lawyer Eliot Lauer said he thought the hearing went well. Lauer argued that there is a basis for the court to ask the parole commission to reconsider the conditions.
“There is a tough standard to meet, but we think we met it,” Lauer said. “I think they will decide it within two months, but it could be sooner.”
The court does not have the power to change the parole restrictions but can recommend to the parole commission that it ease or cancel them. US President Donald Trump’s administration could also decide to commute Pollard’s sentence to time served or to allow him to move to Israel and check in regularly at the American Embassy or the Israeli Justice Ministry.
“We hope the court will go our way,” Lerner said. “If not, we hope the administration will give Jonathan the relief needed. We hope that at an appropriate time the president will take the opportunity to study this and take into account what Jonathan has endured and fashion an appropriate response.”
Figures close to Pollard have spoken with advisers to Trump about allowing him to fulfill his dream of living in the Jewish state, sources close to Pollard said in November.
“We have been in touch,” a source close to Pollard said. “Now we wait and pray.”