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Judicial nominee Joshua Wall faces questions at hearing

Judicial nominee Joshua Wall.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff/File 2011

The Governor’s Council this morning grilled supporters of judicial nominee Joshua Wall on his temperament and his time on the parole board as Wall seeks the council’s vote to become a Superior Court judge.

Wall, who is used to leading tough questioning of inmates seeking parole, sat impassively before the eight-member council Wednesday morning, listening as councilors delved into his background and sought to understand why so many defense attorneys and advocates for prisoners’s rights oppose his nomination.

“I think you can sense that there is a little more than some criticism in this room today,” Councilor Michael J. Albano told Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley, who appointed Wall as his first assistant district attorney in 2002.

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Albano asked Conley, who sat next to Wall, to explain why the criticism is so intense.

“I would say that they barely know Josh,” Conley responded. “If you’re going to talk about someone’s temperament, someone’s character and someone’s reputation, know the person.”

At least 100 people crammed into the Governor’s Council chamber in the State House for the much-anticipated hearing on the nomination of Wall, who has polarized many in the legal community during his time on the parole board. Many defense attorneys have complained that since Wall was appointed chairman of the board in 2011, the rate of inmates serving life sentences who are granted parole has slowed dramatically, a trend they say is the result of a politically-motivated board.They have painted Wall as an ill-tempered leader who on occasion has shown disrespect for inmates.

But supporters, who include defense attorneys and judges, said they are perplexed by the criticism of a man they see as even-keeled and compassionate.

“He has demonstrated to me the highest level of professionalism, respect, integrity, leadership and genuine caring for the safety needs of the public as well as the treatment and reintegration of offenders,” said John Rull, a defense attorney who has represented 24 inmates serving life sentences who have petitioned the parole board for release since 2011. Of the 22 cases heard by the board, ten inmates received favorable decisions, Rull said.

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Traditionally, the council begins judicial nomination hearings by letting supporters of the nominee speak first. Eight supporters spoke during the first three hours of the hearing, including Judge Frank Gaziano and retired Judge Margaret Hinkle, who praised Wall for his legal intellect and work ethic.

But councilors expressed concern about the rate of paroles granted under the new board.

“Why do we have this criticism of the parole board?” Councilor Robert Jubinville asked Parole Board member Charlene Bonner, who spoke in favor of Wall. “Why do I keep reading articles … and these groups come in here and say that the parole rate is the worst it’s ever been since [Wall] came in?”

“I don’t know that that’s true,” Bronner responded. “I don’t think all those statistics that you are reading are accurate. I don’t think they’re accurate. I really don’t.”

Bronner said she could provide numbers compiled by the parole board. Jubinville said he was skeptical.

“I guess I’ll be suspicious of your statistics also because you have a vested interest in statistics that favor you,” he said.

The hearing was expected to continue until late afternoon.


Maria Cramer can be reached at maria.cramer@globe.com.