Louisiana GOP Moves to Eliminate Elected Office Won by Exonerated Man

State legislature aims to block Calvin Duncan from taking office as New Orleans criminal court clerk after his landmark election victory.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:04am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a government building in New Orleans, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the facade, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation on the political forces at play.The fight over an elected position won by a man wrongfully imprisoned highlights the political tensions and power dynamics shaping criminal justice reform in Louisiana.New Orleans Today

Calvin Duncan, a man who was imprisoned for nearly 30 years before being exonerated, won a landslide election in New Orleans to become the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court. However, Louisiana's Republican governor and legislature are now racing to eliminate Duncan's new elected position before he can be sworn in, in what he sees as retaliation for his advocacy.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between criminal justice reform efforts and entrenched political power structures, as well as the challenges faced by those who have been wrongfully convicted in rebuilding their lives and participating in the democratic process.

The details

Duncan won 68% of the vote last November, pledging to reform the justice system based on his own experience fighting to access court records while in maximum security prison. But now, Louisiana Senate Republicans have voted to scrap Duncan's new job as part of a broader GOP effort to streamline the judiciary in New Orleans, a Democratic hub with a predominantly Black electorate. Republicans claim the move is about improving 'government efficiency', but Duncan believes he is being retaliated against by officials who have long denied his innocence.

  • In 2011, prosecutors offered to reduce Duncan's sentence to time served if he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery.
  • In 2021, a judge agreed that Duncan had been unjustly convicted and vacated his sentence altogether.
  • In 2023, as state attorney general, Landry opposed Duncan's petition to be compensated for his wrongful conviction.
  • In 2026, the Louisiana Legislature is racing to eliminate Duncan's elected position before he can be sworn in on May 4.

The players

Calvin Duncan

A man who was imprisoned for nearly 30 years before being exonerated, and who recently won a landmark election in New Orleans to become the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court.

Jeff Landry

The Republican governor of Louisiana who is leading the effort to eliminate Duncan's elected position.

Liz Murrill

The Louisiana attorney general who threatened to take action against Duncan's law license if he continued to call himself 'exonerated'.

Jay Morris

The Republican state senator who authored the bill to eliminate Duncan's elected position.

Royce Duplessis

A Democratic state senator representing New Orleans who criticized the GOP's efforts as 'barbaric'.

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What they’re saying

“What this bill does, it says: 'Thank you but you wasted your time.' It disenfranchises everybody.”

— Calvin Duncan, Clerk of Criminal Court Elect

“The Attorney General made it clear during the election that if I continued to accurately speak about my innocence and exoneration that I would face consequences from her office. We are seeing those consequences today as she and the Governor try to undo the will of 68% of voters in New Orleans.”

— Calvin Duncan, Clerk of Criminal Court Elect

“I have never seen something so barbaric. I understand politics and I know you all are going to vote how you are going to vote. But just know, when we are all done here, history has a record.”

— Royce Duplessis, Democratic State Senator

What’s next

The Louisiana House is expected to pass the bill to eliminate Duncan's elected position, which would then be signed into law by Governor Landry. This would prevent Duncan from being sworn in as the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court on May 4.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by those who have been wrongfully convicted, even after being exonerated, as they seek to rebuild their lives and participate in the democratic process. It also underscores the tensions between criminal justice reform efforts and entrenched political power structures, particularly in states with Republican-controlled legislatures.