"All seven individuals are well-respected and have the highest integrity," said Owens. "I am extremely pleased and am confident all will serve the people of Colorado well."

James Bennett, whose son was murdered in 1985, will serve on the Clemency Board, fulfilling a pledge that Governor Owens made during his State-of-the-State address in January to put a crime victim on the Board.

A retired United States Air Force Major, James Bennett has managed critical wartime emergency logistics support programs in Europe. "In placing James on the Clemency Board, I want to ensure that the voice of victims is heard in these proceedings where the pleading of the felon is all too often heard, while the victims are all too often silent," said Owens.

Bennett has extensive background in contract and subcontract work at the Department of Energy at Rocky Flats. He has a master's degree in Industrial Management from North Dakota University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Regis College in Denver.

Robert Gallagher served as a District Attorney from 1969 to 1997 in the 18th Judicial District and as vice president of the National District Attorneys Association from 1992 to 1996. He has his law degree from the University of Denver College of Law.

James Peters will serve as chairman of the Clemency Board and currently is District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District. Peters serves on the board of directors for the Sungate Child Advocacy Center and developed the District Attorney's HIV sexual offender testing program in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Health and Human Services. He has his juris doctorate from the University of Colorado Law School.

Susan Prose worked as an attorney for Holme, Roberts, and Owen from 1987 to 1994, specializing in employment litigation. Prose received her juris doctorate from Yale Law School and her bachelor's degree from Benedictine College in Kansas.

Executive Director of Corrections John Suthers formerly served as District Attorney for the 4th Judicial District from 1989 to 1997. Suthers served on the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, Drug Control and Systems Improvement Advisory Board from 1995 to 1997. He received his juris doctorate from the University of Colorado Law School.

A reappointment to the Clemency Board, Ronald Walker is known internationally for his expertise in crime scene analysis and behavioral profiling. Walker is currently a supervisory special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and previously served as supervisor of violent crime and major offender investigations in Denver. He was one of the original senior criminal investigative profilers at FBI Headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. He has his master's degree in psychology and counseling from George Washington University.

Executive Director of Public Safety Ari Zavaras formerly served as the executive director of the department of corrections from 1993 to 1999. Zavaras was chief of police for Denver from 1987 to 1991 and was originally appointed by former Governor Roy Romer to the Clemency Board.

The purpose of the board is to make advisory recommendations for executive clemency to the Governor. The Governor may grant clemency to restore citizenship rights or to reward exceptional behavior for those convicted of Colorado crimes. The Executive Clemency Advisory Board assists the Governor in determining which applicants merit a pardon, commutation of sentence or other form of clemency.