article_snippet: Gissendaner's lawyers note that the parole board already heard from many people testifying about her faith and remorse at a hearing last week before denying her clemency.
article_snippet: But, Gissendaner's lawyers argue, the parole board did not hear from many Department of Corrections employees whose perspective 'would have left no doubt that a grant of clemency is supported in this case.'
article_snippet: The most important witness the parole board did not hear from is Kathy Seabolt, who served as her warden for six years, first at Metro State Prison and then at Lee Arrendale State Prison.
article_snippet: Seabolt could testify that former parole board chair James Donald promised Gissendaner would receive clemency, Seabolt lawyers wrote.
article_snippet: Each time the topic came up in conversations between former parole board chair James Donald and Seabolt, 'former parole board chair James Donald reiterated former parole board chair James Donald statement that Gissendaner did not need to worry about clemency as it was a foregone conclusion,' her lawyers wrote.
article_snippet: Gissendaner's lawyers also urged the parole board to subpoena some other corrections employees so Gissendaner's lawyers can testify without fear of retaliation.
article_snippet: Although department rules allow employees to speak to lawyers for capital clemency proceedings, the reality is less clear, Gissendaner's lawyers wrote.
article_snippet: Some employees had said Some employees would testify and provide written statements on Gissendaner's behalf, but changed Some employees minds after getting a memo from the new warden, who succeeded Seabolt last year. '
article_snippet: Gissendaner's lawyers also urged the parole board to consider that before trial, Kathleen Kennedy had been offered the same plea deal as Owen - life in prison with an agreement not to seek parole for 25 years. '
article_snippet: At one time, therefore, all the parties involved in the case thought a sentence less than death was appropriate for Ms. Gissendaner,' Gissendaner's lawyers wrote.
article_snippet: Douglas Gissendaner balked at the parole agreement and took Douglas Gissendaner lawyer's advice to go to trial.
article_snippet: the parole board has granted clemency before in cases involving disproportionate sentences for co-defendants, Douglas Gissendaner wrote. '
article_snippet: In fact, the parole board has on at least four occasions in the past commuted a death sentence of a co-defendant who was not the actual killer of the victim,' Gissendaner's lawyers wrote.