NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Vanderbilt is taking steps to help those who may be innocent in some criminal cases but are still sentenced to serve time.
They're working to build a clinic that'll support exonerating those who are wrongfully convicted in Tennessee.
The Gail Anderson Cañizares Innocence Clinic is set to launch in the spring semester of 2026. Students will work on exoneration cases under the supervision of a long-time Federal Public Defender.
The clinic will also coordinate with the Tennessee Innocence Project to source cases. The university says the main focus for this is to support the exoneration of wrongfully convicted people in Tennessee while also providing students with hands-on case experience through an educational course.
Vanderbilt Law received nearly $7 million as a gift to get this off the ground from Gail and Rob Canizares. Rob served as President of MSA International and the Senior VP of Trane in Asia and Europe during his career. Gail is an educator who graduated from Vanderbilt and has worked with the innocence project for more than 15 years.
She says continuing to work with the Tennessee Innocence Project through a legal clinic at Vanderbilt University Law is the ideal way for her to support Vanderbilt and the vital work of freeing the innocent.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at tony.sloan@newschannel5.com.
Here’s a beautiful story of how one mother turned her grief journey into a gathering of gratitude… and organ donation awareness.
Robb Coles highlights a special event organized by Cari Hollis – whose 26-year old son Austin died two years ago. Austin agreed to be an organ donor – and that single gesture saved multiple lives.
Cari reached out to as many recipients she could find – several of whom traveled to Nashville for an emotional celebration in Austin’s honor. One woman – whose life was saved by receiving Austin’s lungs – put it simply: “He’s my angel”.
- Rhori Johnston
