California judge says, "Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't break law as governor."

A Sacramento County superior court judge prevailed Friday (Sept. 7) that former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not break the law when he cut the manslaughter sentence of Esteban Nunez, the son of political ally Fabian Nunez, just hours before departure office in 2011.

According to the Associated Press, Judge Lloyd Connelly named Schwarzenegger's decision to reduce the sentence from sixteen years to just seven distasteful and "repugnant to the bulk of the citizenry of this state" - but within his powers as governor. 

Esteban Nunez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in an approach that killed 22-year-old college student Luis Santos. Nunez and some friends reportedly assaulted an unarmed group of young men after being turned away from a fraternity party in 2008. 

The San Diego district attorney argued that Schwarzenegger violated Marsy's law, a voter- sanctioned piece of legislation that requires families to be advised about cases involving relatives; however, Judge Connelly ruled that the legislation does not address the governor's power of pardons and commutations. 

"The attorney general's office fought for depravation and they won," said Kathy Santos, the victim's mother. "Where's the justice for our son? He was murdered. Two conniving politicians got away with it."