what do i need to do to obtain a simple pardon for misdeanor in 2000?

Pardons are pretty rarely granted and even if granted it will not clear the charge off your record.  If the case were a felony, you can petition the governor's office for a restoration of your rights, but you don't need that since it was just a misdemeanor.  You would not ordinarily be eligible for an expungement.  In Virginia you can only expunge a criminal record if you are "actually innocent" meaning that the charges were dropped, you were tried and found not guilty, or the case was "otherwise dismissed." If you pled guilty as part of a plea bargain, which is extremely common, even with first offenses, then you cannot expunge that record.  However, I have seen a judge recently grant an expungement for someone with a one-time misdemeanor charge that was very old.  So you may consider going for an expungement and hope you get a sympathetic judge. This answer is given in accordance with the laws of Virginia and may not be applicable in any other state.  It should not be construed as legal advice, as that would require a more thorough analysis of all of the facts involved in a specific case.  If you need further information or assistance, please feel free to contact my office for a consultation. Case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.