Three new members have been appointed to the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles.
James Smith of Pierre, Keith Bonenberger of Kadoka and Patricia Meyers of Rapid City fill open positions on the nine-member panel.
All three appointments are subject to confirmation by the South Dakota Senate.
The board holds hearings and takes action on inmate petitions for parole, and makes recommendations to the governor on requests for clemency.
A couple of the openings are due to members leaving because of frustration that Gov. Mike Rounds has not acted on some recommendations from the board.
Rounds said he wouldn't apologize for the long deliberations because he's responsible for the rulings and doesn't think a governor should rubber-stamp the board.
