Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and other law enforcement officials are advocating for Gov. Kay Ivey to reappoint Leigh Gwathney to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.
In a press release Tuesday, Marshall’s office praised Gwathney’s “steadfast leadership, her background as a seasoned prosecutor, and her commitment to prioritizing public safety in the face of intense political pressure.”
Gwathney, chair since 2019, oversaw a dip in paroles to single-digit rates a few years ago. Gwathney’s term expired Monday and her name is one of five sent to Ivey for possible appointment to a new term.
Alabama Daily News reported earlier this week that Marshall’s office pushed to get Gwathney’s name on that list sent by legislative leadership.
“Ms. Gwathney’s experience prosecuting violent crimes for both Jefferson County and the Attorney General’s Office makes her uniquely qualified to preside over the parole board,” says a letter to Ivey signed by Marshall and 76 district attorneys, sheriffs and local law enforcement leaders.
“More importantly, her willingness to continue to serve in the face of unprecedented and unwarranted criticism by the liberal media shows a level of courage, conviction, and dedication to the cause that is rarely seen in Montgomery,”
“Ms. Gwathney has earned the trust and respect of law enforcement, prosecutors, and crime victims across our state, all of whom now have a stake in seeing her reappointed.”
The three-member board’s parole rates went from 53% in 2019 to 8% in 2023, decisions Gwathney defended by saying the panel wouldn’t be driven by statistics. Last year, Gwathney had a “fiasco” of a meeting with a panel of lawmakers over accountability and the board’s lack of conformance with parole guidelines it sets. After that meeting, one Republican leader in the Senate joined Democratic lawmakers in calling for reforms on the board.
Sen. Clyde Chambliss’ bill didn’t pass, but he was able to tie the board’s 2026 funding to a requirement the body updates its guidelines, something the board is supposed to do every three years but hadn’t.
“The law requires new guidelines every three years and it took the Legislature threatening their budget to get (Gwathney) to comply with the law,” Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said Tuesday.
He’s carried multiple bills to reform the parole board and process. He also said the board under Gwathney has delayed parole hearings outside of what’s allowed by law.
More importantly, England said the board’s denial rates have made the state less safe. While Marshall’s letter points to 85% of current state inmates being considered violent offenders, most Alabama prison inmates will get out eventually, England said. If they reach their end of sentence without parole, the state has no oversight of them as it would through parole.
“Denying everyone has made us less safe,” England said.
Per state law, Ivey has until Monday to make the new appointment to the board.