Bill that would exonerate Wilson County man advances
NASHVILLE - A bill that seeks to eliminate the need for governor approval on certain exoneration requests that would include a Wilson County man’s application has been approved by a subcommittee to move forward.
State. Rep. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, drafted the bill that seeks to enable anyone who has spent at least 25 years in prison and is cleared through DNA evidence to be exonerated and go directly to the Tennessee Board of Claims to seek compensation.
Pody has advocated for Lawrence McKinney, who spent 31 years in prison on a 1978 rape and burglary conviction in Memphis, but was cleared through DNA evidence and released from prison in 2009.
However, McKinney, who now lives in Wilson County, has been unable to gain executive exoneration that can now only be granted by the governor.
The bill will require more legislative steps before it goes to the full floor, with it next moving to the full Criminal Justice Committee, Pody said.
“This is a huge first step,” Pody said. “Most bills that die, die in that first subcommittee. I know it will be a big fight, but at least it’s moving.”
Those who are granted exoneration can apply for compensation up to $1 million with the Tennessee Board of Claims. Pody’s legislation would give McKinney the right to go before the board of claims based on the judicial ruling on his case.
Gov. Bill Haslam has confirmed it received a report on McKinney’s application after the Tennessee Board of Parole conducted a hearing in September.
Haslam, who can grant, deny or choose not to act on an application, did say he would make a decision on McKinney’s application earlier this year, but did not give a timetable. The parole board board gave McKinney’s exoneration request a negative recommendation, which the governor is not bound to follow.