Judge, DA both recuse themselves from Fayette County sex offender case
The decision to approve house arrest for Timothy Vess Benton was affected by Leigh Gwathney leaving Alabama’s parole board, Judge Junkin wrote.
Leigh Gwathney
Hal Nash officially sworn in as new chair of parole board
Nash is replacing controversial parole board chair Leigh Gwathney, who oversaw a sharp decline in parole approvals.
Board of Pardons and Paroles to hold hearings this week following appointment of new chair
The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles will hold 59 parole hearings and 30 pardon hearings this week—likely with a new chair.
Gov. Ivey appoints new chair to the Board of Pardons and Paroles
Hal Nash, a veteran law enforcement officer, was appointed Chair of Alabama’s Pardons and Paroles Board
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See recent postsAlabama Parole Board Chair must follow same laws she applies to others
“If my clients can spend decades behind bars for violating the law, then so should the people deciding their fates when they break it themselves.”
Attorney General Steve Marshall calls for parole board chair’s reappointment
During Leigh Gwathney's tenure, Alabama's parole rates dramatically declined, earning her support from Marshall but criticism from some lawmakers.
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See recent postsReappointing Gwathney would be a grave mistake for Alabama justice
Gwathney’s leadership turned parole into a bureaucratic blockade. If Ivey wants to restore fairness, she must say no to six more years of dysfunction.
Lawmakers grill parole board chair over low approval rates
Beginning in 2019, applicants have been granted parole at a sharply declining rate.
71 parole, 29 pardon hearings scheduled this week
The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles is scheduled to hold 71 parole hearings and 29 pardon hearings.
Parole grant rate rises with start of new year
Recent data shows an uptick in the percentage of people being granted parole, although still far short of the board’s guidelines.