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Judge denies death-row inmate’s request after witnesses say governor’s office didn’t pressure Clemency Board
A federal judge on Tuesday refused a death-row prisoner’s request to disqualify the Board of Executive Clemency from hearing his plea for mercy, finding that he didn’t prove that the governor’s office pressured board members to pursue a tough-on-crime policy.
Former chairman of Board of Clemency denies most allegations of misconduct
A worker’s discrimination complaint has led to detailed allegations of an intolerable working environment at the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency under Chairman Jesse Hernandez.
Among other things, Hernandez ogled women in the office, called a staff member a heathen for not attending church, urged workers to gossip about one another and promoted a girlfriend who wasn’t qualified for [...]
Capitol Quotes: April 27, 2012
This week's most outstanding quips, jibes and utterances.
Johnny Paycheck has nothing on Duane Belcher
After 20 years of work with the Board of Executive Clemency, Executive Director Duane Belcher was fired and shown the door on Monday – and not without the help of Capitol Police. Belcher was kicked out of the Ninth Floor after engaging in a heated conversation with Brewer deputy chief of staff and DOA Director Scott Smith. “I called him an a**hole,” Belcher told our reporter, adding that pol[...]
Dust-up leads to Clemency director’s firing
Gov. Jan Brewer fired the outgoing executive director of the Board of Executive Clemency after three newly confirmed appointees showed up late for work Monday.
Their tardiness caused a two-hour delay of clemency hearings as victims and families of prisoners stood by disgruntled, and waited for a quorum to form.
3 new appointees on clemency board; long-time chief out
Duane Belcher, chairman and executive director of the Arizona Board of Clemency, is on his way out after 20 years, as three new appointees take their places on the panel now made up entirely of Gov. Jan Brewer’s picks. Belcher’s departure, some observers say, creates a vacuum of experience and leadership. Belcher is also one of the last members left from a board that unanimously recommended[...]
