Governor Appoints Albert Murray, Terry Barnard to State Board of Pardons and Paroles

ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the appointment of Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Albert Murray and State Rep. Terry Barnard to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Murray will replace Milton E. “Buddy” Nix, whose term expired December 31, 2009. Murray’s appointment will be effective May 15, and expires on December 31, 2016.

“Commissioner Murray has done an outstanding job leading the Department of Juvenile Justice, including ending 11 years of federal oversight after demonstrating the care and education of Georgia’s juvenile offenders has dramatically improved,” said Governor Perdue. “He is a compassionate public servant that understands our justice system well and will provide a perspective on the Board of Pardons and Paroles shaped by his considerable experience and knowledge in the field.”

Governor Perdue is recommending current Pardons and Paroles Board member Garland R. Hunt to the Board of Juvenile Justice as Commissioner Murray’s replacement. Hunt is resigning from the Pardons and Paroles Board effective May 15, and Governor Perdue is appointing Rep. Barnard to fill Hunt’s board seat. Rep. Barnard’s appointment will be effective on May 15 and expires on December 31, 2010.

“Albert has left a lasting legacy at DJJ, and I am very thankful that Garland has agreed to step into this important role,” Governor Perdue said. “Terry has been a faithful and respected public servant in the legislature, including his service as Chairman of the House State Institutions and Property Committee. By agreeing to serve the remainder of Garland’s term, he has ensured that the Board will not have its work disrupted during this transition period.”

Biographies of Albert Murray, Terry Barnard and Garland Hunt are below:

State Board of Pardons and Paroles

Albert Murray – Albert Murray was sworn in as Commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice on January 23, 2004. Mr. Murray began his service to troubled youth in his native state of Tennessee, including being appointed to assistant commissioner of juvenile services for the state of Tennessee. His successful career in Tennessee resulted in his appointment as the first commissioner of the newly created Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority. During 2003, Mr. Murray served as Deputy Commissioner of Programs for the Alabama Department of Corrections. Mr. Murray is now the longest serving juvenile justice commissioner in Georgia’s history. Included in his many accomplishments as Commissioner of DJJ are a SACS accredited school program, new and strengthened community programs, a newly created victims advocacy component, expanded training opportunities for staff, and completion of all requirements for the release of the agency’s oversight by the U.S. Department of Justice on May 05, 2009. Mr. Murray has a wife, Connie, and two adult daughters, Andrea and Camille.

Terry Barnard – Rep. Barnard began his legislative career in 1994. He currently represents District 166 in Southeast Georgia. Rep. Barnard completed his legislative careers as a member of the Natural Resources and Environment, Rules, and Appropriations Committees. He is also the Chair of the State Institutions and Property Committee. Chairman Barnard has served 8 of his 10 years on this committee as ranking Republican. Representative Barnard worked in the financial industry for more than 18 years. He has been the Vice President and Branch Manager of First Citizens Bank for over 10 years, where he is responsible for all aspects of lending and collecting. Born in Reidsville in 1957, the representative now resides in Glennville with his wife, Susan. He is a member of a local Baptist Church.

Department of Juvenile Justice

Garland R. Hunt – Garland Hunt was sworn in as a Member of the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles on January 23, 2004. Prior to his service on the Parole Board, Mr. Hunt owned a consulting company, Hunt Consulting, and served as General Counsel and Executive Vice-President for the Fellowship of International Churches (FOIC) in Atlanta. Mr. Hunt is also Vice-President of Wellington Boone Ministries in Atlanta. Wellington Boone Ministries is an umbrella organization of several community-based initiatives including outreach for college and high school students and athletes. Mr. Hunt is currently a co-pastor of The Father’s House in Norcross, where he supervises pastoral staff, offers pastoral counseling and manages the administrative and fiscal activities of the organization. Before moving to Georgia, Mr. Hunt was a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. Since 1983, Mr. Hunt has been a member of the Georgia Bar Association, and he is licensed to practice law in state and federal courts. Mr. Hunt attended undergraduate and law school at Howard University in Washington, D.C, where he was an editor for the Howard University Law Review and worked as a Research Associate for the Institute for the Study of Educational Policy.

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