Former Cobb DA Joyette Holmes sworn in as Board of Pardons and Paroles Member 

Joyette Holmes, former District Attorney for Cobb County, was recently sworn in as a Board of Pardons and Paroles Member. The swearing-in ceremony took place on Tuesday, officiated by Board Chairman Terry Barnard. Holmes assumes the position, replacing Jacqueline Bunn, whose term concluded on December 31.

Expressing gratitude in a news release, Holmes acknowledged Governor Brian Kemp for the appointment, stating, “I am grateful as well to Governor Kemp for the appointment, grateful for him believing me to be a good addition to this board and to this team that does so much work across the state.”

As a new member of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Holmes joins a body responsible for crucial decisions, including granting paroles, pardons, reprieves, and commutations of sentences, with the authority to commute a death sentence. Emphasizing the significance of the board’s work in relation to public safety, Holmes stated, “This board does such important work that revolves around public safety, and I look forward to being a part of the board’s decision-making.”

Board Chairman Terry Barnard expressed gratitude for Governor Kemp’s selection of Holmes, emphasizing her background and experience. He stated in a press release, “We are grateful that the Governor, with his power to search throughout the state and nation, that he chose (Holmes). Ms. Holmes has the background and I can see is a person that with her experience and thoughtful approach will make decisions that are just and fair.”

Members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles are state employees, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Georgia State Senate. Holmes currently is an attorney in the Law Office of Gregory Doyle Calhoun and Rogers in Marietta.

Holmes enjoys a diverse legal career. She previously served as a defense attorney in the district courts of Baltimore County, Maryland and held positions as Cobb County’s chief magistrate judge, an assistant district attorney, and an assistant solicitor general.