Frank Lannom, Attorney at Law

08/28/2026

A governor should and does wield extraordinary power. It is needed because the best system in the world isn't perfect.
The power was seen by our founders as a necessity when the cracks in our system shows itself. Consider, we write laws that use one blanket definition to fit situations that were never contemplated. DA's yield the power to make adjustments, judges not so much. When the broad definition results in an inappropriate result, the pardon and clemency power is there to fix injustice. Normally only used in the last term of a president or governor (which is a shame because injustice shouldn't be controlled by election cycles) but is welcomed and appropriate in a good system that isn't perfect.
Thank you Governor Lee.

THOMAS CLARDY SERVED 17-YEARS FOR A MURDER HE SAYS HE DID NOT COMMIT.
Today Tennessee Governor Bill Lee commuted his sentence.
Clardy will be free in a matter of days.
HERE IS THE BACKSTORY:
Who is Thomas Clardy?
He was convicted in 2007 for a 2005 shooting at a Madison auto-repair shop that killed Kirk Clouatre and injured Kirk's brother and wife.
He received a life sentence.
His lawyers say no physical evidence has ever tied Clardy to the crime, no motive was ever presented at trial, and he was at home with his pregnant wife at the time of the shooting.
Still, he went to prison.
But then, after serving 17-years, Clardy was released in October of 2023.
This after a federal district judge in Nashville overturned his conviction, citing "exceedingly weak" evidence.
During his nearly two years of freedom following that ruling, Clardy began rebuilding his life — getting engaged, finding employment, and turning his life around.
However, an appeals court reversed the district court’s ruling.
That required Clardy to go back to prison serving life.
Whew.
I had an exclusive interview with Clardy .
He knew it was a matter of time after the appeals court ruling that he’d be ordered to return and serve the life sentence.
I asked him: “Knowing that, have you considered running … just disappear?”
Clardy said he never considered it and would not run from a sentence for a crime he says he did not commit.
He put his faith in the system.
Today the Governor granted him clemency.
That’s it.
No judge can send him back to prison.
His family is thrilled … and he can’t wait to see his baby daughter.
Case closed.
KEEP IN MIND: A commutation does not mean you are not guilty.
A commutation only reduces the punishment or length of a prison sentence.
It does not change the original conviction, erase your criminal record, or declare you innocent.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

08/28/2026

Congratulations Sheriff!
Thank you for all you do!

MANY NEWLY-ELECTED OR RE-ELECTED SHERIFFS BEING SWORN IN THIS WEEK.
This includes my sheriff in Wilson County, TN Robert Bryan.
He was officially sworn in to serve his fourth full term as sheriff.
He, of course, followed in the footsteps of former Wilson County sheriff and my good buddy Terry Ashe.
We’ve had some good ones.
After running unopposed in the most recent election, Sheriff Bryan took the oath of office with his lovely wife by his side — administered by the one and only Honorable Judge Barry Tatum.
Where is his tie dye robe?
Was there a reception later with one of Barry’s famous homemade cheesecakes?
And, I wasn’t invited?
Ouch.
CONGRATULATIONS.

08/27/2026

Officer tracks ex-girlfriend for 2,000 miles on flock.
Do you think political interest would drive a lot more of this and you would never know. Do you think law enforcement would say no to a Senator who justifies it through pressure and a request to the FBI?
There are no limits.

LICENSE PLATE READERS CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT …
… BUT, THERE IS A DOWN SIDE IF THE TECHNOLOGY IS ABUSED.
When critics complain about privacy issues THIS is what they are talking about:
A Kentucky police officer was arrested after authorities say he used the Flock Safety license plate reader camera system to track his ex-girlfriend.
They say he did so over 2,000 times.
This marks the latest in a string of recent law enforcement officer resignations or arrests for alleged abuses of the controversial technology.
Shively Police Department Officer Asad Zahir’s alleged activity was flagged by the new AI-powered auditing tool implemented by Flock Safety after growing concerns around security and misuse by police, authorities said, in many cases involving officers accused of using the system to stalk exes or romantic interests.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

08/27/2026

Congratulations

What a sweet treat to have my wife attend tonight’s county commission meeting, the last one for my first term. Swearing in for term #2 will be next Monday evening. All I can say is that God never ceases to amaze me and all things work together for good. Romans 8:28.

08/27/2026

THP boss refuses to answer to taxpayers why his employees continue to arrest innocent drivers. Are you next?
Is it to easy to justify pulling you over and getting you out of your car to conduct these test?

Why won't they talk to tax payers?

08/24/2026

Your conscience may be tired of seeing this, but it's my job to make sure you don't forget.

08/22/2026

The society we live in has the technology to bring criminal prosecutions for, well everything. You don't want to be caught being late to work, so you clock in on a mobile device 5 minutes early, 3 days a week. AI can cross check you log in vs security card swipe when you enter a building, on every employee twice a day. The result is a criminal indictment for fraud.
Hey, cheating is cheating, right?

Yet, where does it end? What if AI sends everyone's driving and location compared to posted speed to the THP, every-time you hit 71 mph on the interstate, you then get a ticket for every infraction. Your license is suspended the first week!
How far do we want "tough on crime" to go?
I feel job security coming up for me. Be careful what you ask for when it's "tough on crime", you may not like it when it's you.

ALLEGATIONS OF FUDGING HER TIMESHEET AT THE COUNTY CLERK AND MASTER’S OFFICE IN THE COURTHOUSE.
There are certainly ways to check for this type of thing.
How?
Read:
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller has resulted in the indictment of Kim Davis.
She’s an employee of the Maury County Clerk and Master’s Office.
This comes after investigators determined she received at least $2,075.95 for time she did not work.
The investigation began after Maury County officials identified and reported questionable time reporting.
Investigators determined that between October 14, 2024, and December 17, 2025, Davis used a mobile timekeeping application on her personal cell phone without authorization to clock in before arriving at the Maury County Judicial Center in Columbia.
Investigators compared Davis’ electronic time records with records showing when she used her keycard to enter the building.
Of the 250 workdays reviewed, Davis clocked in before entering the building on 202 days.
The differences ranged from several minutes to hours and totaled at least 83 hours, 25 minutes, and 14 seconds.
These time entries also increased Davis’ compensatory time balances by pushing her reported hours beyond a normal 40-hour workweek.
Based upon this investigation, on August 18, 2026, the Maury County Grand Jury indicted Kim Davis on one count of theft over $1,000, one count of falsification of government records, one count of forgery, and one count of official misconduct.
Innocent till proven guilty.
WHEW.

08/22/2026

The longest-serving individual in U.S. history, Glynn Simmons, will be able to sue a detective who worked to convict him in a 1975 murder. Claude Shobert had sought qualified immunity, but a judge denied that protection in a hearing this week. Simmons lost more than 48 years of his before being released in 2023 in Oklahoma.

Testimony from a single eyewitness, who was inconsistent in her accounts, helped originally convict Simmons, who also did not match the height and weight descriptions of the suspect. He had always maintained since trial that he was in Louisiana at the time of the shooting, and presented alibi witnesses who backed that up, and that he had never set foot in Oklahoma in his life until six days after the murder took place.

https://ow.ly/ofx550ZC644

08/14/2026

Everyday

Rutherford County jail guards and medical staff were too slow to respond to save Joseph Adam Denton, the lawsuit states.

08/14/2026

TRAFFIC TICKET VS. CITATIONS

Be aware, citations can look like traffic tickets but are more serious and need to be handled accordingly. A lot of times we see clients with citations for driving offenses—reckless driving, reckless endangerment, etc. and they think it’s just a traffic ticket they can pay. It’s not. These are misdemeanors that carry up to 11 months and 29 days in jail. And if you don’t show up for your court date? A failure to appear can be issued by the judge, which is another class a misdemeanor that carries up to 11 months and 29 days in jail after you’re arrested and held without bail. Be cautious, speak to an attorney about whether you have received a traffic ticket versus a citation, and always be aware of booking dates and court dates.