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Wall Confirmed As New Parole Board Head

The career prosecutor chosen by Gov. Deval Patrick to overhaul the state Parole Board has won confirmation.

By a 5-3 vote, the Governor's Council on Wednesday confirmed former Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Josh Wall.

The three members of the council who voted against Wall took issue with how he was chosen.

"The three who voted against said the governor did not put this position out, to post it to find the best-qualified candidate," said WBUR's David Boeri, at the State House. "Rather, it was a social call to Josh Wall. He is a friend of the governor's."

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, who heads the Governor's Council, dismissed the criticism.

"There was a certain urgency to fill the role and fill the seats," Murray said, "and the governor picked somebody who — again it's the governor's prerogative. He's elected by the people and people trust his judgment."

Wall has been serving as temporary director of the Parole Board following the resignations of five board members who approved of the release of Dominic Cinelli, a career criminal authorities say later shot and killed a Woburn police officer last December.

Murray says the Patrick administration hopes to fill the remaining vacancies on the board within the next month.

This program aired on February 16, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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