Clemency board opens televised session, emphasizes clear recordkeeping and procedures

Chair Raymond Delas Reyes opened the Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board's quarterly hearings, introduced staff and counsel and reminded participants that the proceedings are being televised by TVW and transcribed by a court reporter. He asked that everyone "speak slowly and clearly so that our record is accurate and complete."

The chair reviewed the format and time allocations for petitions (in the Trey Styles matter each side had been allotted 60 minutes; in the Floyd Skinner matter each side was allotted 30 minutes) and described the board's role as making a recommendation to the governor, who retains final authority. Several staff and counsel names were placed on the record, including paralegals Tina Bouchard and Nicole Sinclair, counsel Katie Faber from the Attorney General's Office, Department of Corrections representative Christy Brule and court reporter Michelle Brandt. The procedural reminders and staff introductions framed the hearings that followed and were repeated at the start of the later session.