Testing the Impossible: A Legal Framework for Forgiveness in Transitional States.  Over the past thirty years, forgiveness has evolved into a distinct legal issue after being long confined to theology, philosophy, and, to a lesser extent, political science. This can be explained by the proliferation of transitional justice experiences worldwide embodied by Truth and Reconciliation Commissions and local forms of justice. These alternative mechanisms, which either complement or substitute for traditional courts depending on the circumstances, are embedded in specific historical, political, and social contexts. States in transition find themselves in situations where resorting to conventional judicial tools and punishing "normally" is impossible because a too severe penal response would encourage a return to hostilities or jeopardize the sustainability of a democratic transition. Consequently, concessions must be made, and alternative solutions specific to this context must be sought. States have long turned to "clemency institutions" such as amnesties, pardons, and statutes of limitations. However, these measures, largely institutionalizing forgetfulness, are heavily regulated by international law, which largely prohibits them. States in transition must, therefore, consider other types of mechanisms to find a balance as satisfactory as possible between, on the one hand, the viability and sustainability of a peace process or democratic transition, and on the other hand, the demand for justice. How can these two conflicting interests be concretely reconciled? To what extent should ordinary criminal justice be employed? Can the law envision alternatives to punishment? Can we accept alternatives to retribution? Is it possible to reduce or mitigate sanctions for the sake of reconciliation and reconstruction, and if so, under what conditions? The recognition of a legal concept of forgiveness lies at the heart of these reflections. The aim is to demonstrate that forgiveness, as a legal concept, both redefines the role of the State in relation to the violation of penal norms and can be integrated with other legal rules.