TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Apr 8, 2026

A Nashville man who has spent nearly two decades in prison for a 2005 murder he maintains he did not commit is awaiting a final decision from Gov. Bill Lee after the Tennessee Board of Parole recommended his exoneration. According to the Tennessean, Thomas Clardy was convicted of first-degree murder but has long asserted his innocence, a claim his attorneys and supporters — including the Tennessee Innocence Project — persuaded a majority of the board to support in February. The board’s recommendation is nonbinding, leaving Lee to determine whether to formally exonerate Clardy. In interviews, Clardy described a mix of relief and frustration as he continues to wait in prison, having previously been released for nearly two years before an appellate court reversed that decision in 2025.