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Gregory Oswald Griffin Sr. (born July 11, 1958 in Rocky Mount, NC) is the current Chief Legal Counsel for the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Birth and childhood

Griffin was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina in 1958. He grew up in that city, in the same neighborhood in which other prominent politicians were raised Thurbert Baker (the current Georgia Attorney General); Mike Easley (the current Governor and former Attorney General of North Carolina), and Roy Cooper, (the current Attorney General of North Carolina).

Education

Griffin attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned his BA degree in political science in 1980.

While at Morehouse College, Griffin served as Student Government Association President for the 1978-79 academic year. He was the first ever “independent” (non- fraternity member) and junior class member to be elected to that position. As President of the Student Government Association Griffin had several friends and political allies who are notable figures today. They include: Martin Luther King III, Dexter King, Sheldon “Spike” Lee, Jeh Charles Johnson, David Haley, Edwin Moses, C. Howie Hodges II, David J. Dent, and Emmett Carson.

1980 - Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA (Student Body President). 1983 - Juris doctorate degree, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA. 1984 - Master of law (taxation), Boston University School of Law, Boston, MA (member of the Tax Law Review)

Career Chronology:

1984 - 1985 A.G. Gatson Enterprises, Inc., associate general counsel 1985 - 1986 associate, Pennick, Williams and Jones, Birmingham, AL 1986 - 1987 staff attorney, Legal Services Corporation of Alabama, Inc. 1989 - present adjunct / instructor, Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama 1987 - 1995 assistant attorney general, office of the Attorney General, Montgomery, AL 1995 - present chief legal counsel / Attorney IV, Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Attorney General

Griffin was an assistant attorney general in the Attorney General Office, where he specialized in civil litigation and criminal appellate practice, representing judges and other public officials in a variety of cases. He was also general counsel to the Alabama Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

In 1994, Griffin was the first African American to become the Republican Party Nominee for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, receiving over a half million votes. However, he was narrowly defeated by Sue Bell Cobb -- the current Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Griffin served as the Chairman of the Republican Council -- the African American arm of the State Republican party. He also served on the party’s 20-member steering Committee.

Chief Legal Counsel, Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles

In November 1995, Griffin was selected by the Alabama Board as the first African American for the position of chief legal counsel, and was the second African American in Alabama history to attain the highest merit system rank of Attorney IV.

In his position as Chief Legal Counsel for the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, he provides oversight, guidance and direction for legal advice provided throughout the department as well as providing advice on any legal subject and on other matters as directed by the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Griffin is also an adjunct instructor at Alabama State University teaching courses in Real Estate Finance, Business Law I and Federal Income Taxation. He has served in that position since 1989.

Personal

Griffin and his wife Debra have three children. They reside in Montgomery, Alabama, where he is an active member of the Community Congregational Church of Christ.

In 2009 Griffin and his wife established the Greg and Debra Griffin Foundation to share their blessings with those in need.

Organizations

Capitol Club

Griffin was elected in 2000 as the first African American Chairman of the Board of Governors of the prestigious Capital City Club of Montgomery, Alabama. He served in that position for one year. Prior to his election as Chairman, Griffin had served on the Board of Governors for more than 12 years.

Awards and Honors:

Recipient of Law School Scholastic Scholarship; Winner of first year oral argument ; received honors in oral advocacy; Selected to be judge of first year arguments.

On April 5, 2010, Gov. Bob Riley appointed Mr. Griffin, Sr., to represent the Second Congressional District on the Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC). Griffin’s appointment was confirmed by the Alabama Senate on March 23, 2010.

The seven-member AETC is charged with overseeing Alabama’s public television service to Alabama residents and to ensure compliance with the licensee requirements of the Federal Communications Commission. Griffin will also serve concurrently on the board of the Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority, a non-profit public corporation responsible for soliciting and managing grants for the benefit of APT and overseeing the corporation’s endowments and investments.

Alabama Public Television is America’s first statewide public television network. It is a seven-day-a-week educational resource that includes online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System.

Professional Memberships and Affiliations:

Alabama State Bar Pennsylvania State Bar District of Columbia Bar U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals United States Tax Court

Cases of Interest

The parole of Harold Guy Hunt

Griffin was Chief Counsel for the Parole Board during the time the Board granted a Pardon to former Governor Harold Guy Hunt. The United States Attorney for the Middle District Redding Pitt called for a Federal investigation of Griffin and the Parole Board. Griffin and the Parole Board were never investigated and the former Governor kept his Pardon and later ran for Governor for a third time but was defeated by Don Seigelman who would later be convicted of a Bribery and Obstruction of Justice Charge and sent to Federal Prison.

Role in William Pryor Jr.’s Selection As Attorney General of Alabama

Griffin’s name was mentioned as a possible appointee to succeed U S Senator-elect Jeff Sessions as Attorney General of Alabama. William Holcombe “Bill” Pryor Jr. eventually received the appointment.

Griffin, a friend of Pryor’s, was an early and strong supporter of Pryor’s confirmation to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals when the nomination ran into Democrat opposition. Many Democrats criticized Pryor for his comments regarding homosexuality and abortion, as well as for what he described as his extreme right-wing views and reputation as a conservative.

Griffin, a Republican with many Democratic friends, at every opportunity dispelled the criticisms about Pryor and claims credit for encouraging many prominent African Americans to support Pryor’s confirmation.

Griffin, upon Pryor’s request, was one of the individuals interviewed by the FBI concerning his nomination to the Court. Pryor was the first and only judge appointed to the Eleventh Circuit by Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate. On June 09, 2005 he was confirmed to the Eleventh Circuit by a vote of (53-45).

Griffin is also a close political friend and financial supporter of Alabama Attorney General Troy King.

George Wallace

Griffin had the good fortune to have as one of his political mentors the late Governor George Wallace. For many years the two had offices close to each other in the Lurlene Wallace State Office Building. Griffin visited Wallace both in his office and at his home. He credits the late Governor with instructing him in the intricacies of Alabama politics.

Landmark Case

Griffin represented the State of Alabama in the landmark Alabama Supreme Court case Ex parte State of Alabama (Re William Maxwell CURREN v. STATE (620 So.2d 739. In Ex parte Curren the Alabama Supreme Court stated that Section 32-5A-191(a)(1) makes driving a vehicle with blood alcohol content of 0.10% a crime without reference to the effect that alcohol has on the driver and that therefore, intoxication is not an element of the offense. In addition, the Alabama Supreme Court held that while a defendant “can offer evidence to rebut the State’s evidence that his blood alcohol content was 0.10% when he was found driving, or in actual physical control of a vehicle,” he can not introduce evidence to rebut the fact that he was intoxicated, because as the Alabama Supreme court stated, whether the defendant was intoxicated “ is not relevant to the charge of driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.10% or greater.

Personal

Spike Lee

Griffin is a college friend and classmate of Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated American film director, producer, writer, and actor Shelton Jackson “Spike” Lee. He was one of the first people Lee contacted to help with financing of his first major movie, She's Gotta have it!

At that time, Griffin was the attorney for Birmingham millionaire A.G. Gaston, a wealthy African American. Lee asked Griffin to ask A.G. Gaston for a fifteen thousand-dollar investment. When Griffin approached Gaston about investing in his College friend’s movie, “She’s Gotta Have It”, the 92 year old Gaston asked, "She’s gotta have what?" Gaston refused to invest in Lee’s movie.

Heriosm Citation

On July 1st, 2008 Griffin received a citation from the City of Montgomery and was acknowledged for heroism in recognition for his bravery and citizenship, while assisting the Montgomery Police Department in the apprehension of a thief who stole valuable city property.

Bibliography

Montgomery Advertiser, Thursday September 22, 1994, Outcome of Appellate Court Race to Make History.
Montgomery Advertiser, Saturday, November 16, 1996, Two Join Hopefuls for AG Appointment.
Montgomery Advertiser, Saturday June 14, 1997, Grimes defends Hunt Pardon.
Montgomery Advertiser Wednesday April 1st, 1997, Hunt Pardoned.
Morehouse Alumnus Magazine Fall 1998
Montgomery Advertiser, Monday, March 4, 2002, Black Club Leader’s Accent Puts Past In Perspective.
Montgomery Advertiser Thursday, August 15, 1996, Spike Lee visits Wallace for Church Bombing Film.
In Search of Black America, David J. Dent (2000) pp.283-285
Griffin Speaks
CNN Court TV (Nancy Grace) reporting live “Guy Hunt Pardoned “June 11, 1997