The term of Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles Chair Leigh Gwathney officially ends this week, bringing attention to the process of naming the board’s next leader. Gwathney was appointed to a six-year term by Governor Kay Ivey in 2019, and her appointment is now set to expire.

Under Alabama law, the Governor selects parole board members with the advice and consent of the Senate. A three-member nominating committee—composed of Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, and Senate President Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger—is tasked with submitting a list of five qualified nominees to the Governor, who then has ten days to make a selection.

According to Alabama Daily News, the committee has not confirmed whether a list has been compiled or when it will meet to finalize potential nominees.

RELATED: Alabama Senators say they were misled-now they’re pushing to reshape the state’s pardons and paroles board

In the absence of a new appointment, Gwathney may continue to serve in her role until a successor is named and confirmed. Although board appointments require Senate confirmation, state law permits appointees to serve pending confirmation. The Legislature is not scheduled to reconvene until 2026.

The operations of the parole board have come under increasing scrutiny from lawmakers in recent years. Concerns have been raised about declining parole grant rates, lack of transparency, and failure to comply with the board’s own guidelines for release decisions. Lawmakers have responded by introducing oversight measures, tying budget allocations to the adoption of updated guidelines, and calling for more accountability in board operations.

Yellowhammer News previously reported that one such measure—Senate Bill 324—was approved by the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee during the 2025 legislative session. Though the bill did not pass, it would have expanded the board from three to five members, transferred the power to choose the board’s chair from the governor to the board itself, and mandated Senate confirmation for all board appointments. The proposal also outlined new timelines for parole reconsideration following denials, depending on the nature of the offense.

RELATED: Alabama Senators say they were misled – now they’re pushing to reshape the state’s pardons and paroles board

SB324 was introduced following complaints from lawmakers that parole board members had delayed responses to oversight inquiries and failed to update their parole guidelines, a process required by law every three years. Lawmakers emphasized that their primary concern was not just the number of paroles granted, but the board’s consistently low adherence to its own guidelines. The board concluded fiscal year 2024 with a 20% average parole grant rate and a guideline conformance rate of approximately 20%, despite internal recommendations suggesting a significantly higher rate.

As the state awaits the next steps in the appointment process, the future leadership of the parole board—and the broader direction of parole policy in Alabama—remains uncertain.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

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