Brandon Vandenburg and Cory Batey were released from jail about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, fewer than 24 hours after they learned they'd get a new trial in what has become known as the Vanderbilt rape case.
The two men changed their orange jail uniforms -- which they have worn in jail since being convicted in January -- for suits and collared shirts immediately before leaving Davidson County Criminal Justice Center.
They briefly met inside the cement-block lobby with their attorneys, and Vandenburg smiled as he hugged his attorney. They declined to comment and carried bags of their belongings.