§ 22-3702 Form of pardon.

If the governor decides to pardon someone, that pardon has to be put in writing. The governor must sign it, and it needs the official state seal to make it valid.

Once the pardon is properly signed and sealed, it works as legal proof that the person named in it should be released and set free. Officials holding that person, like prison staff, must accept this document as their authority to let the person go.

In short, this rule just spells out what a valid pardon looks like on paper. It has to be written down, signed by the governor, and carry the state seal before anyone is required to act on it.