Louisiana GOP Moves to Eliminate Elected Office Won by Exonerated Man

Calvin Duncan, who spent nearly 30 years in prison before being exonerated, won the New Orleans clerk of criminal court election, but the GOP is racing to eliminate his position before he can take office.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:18am

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A photorealistic painting of a stately government building in New Orleans, its facade cast in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the political tensions surrounding this case.The historic New Orleans courthouse stands as a silent witness to the political battle over an elected office won by a man once wrongfully imprisoned.New Orleans Today

Calvin Duncan, a man who spent nearly 30 years in prison before being exonerated, won the election for the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court in New Orleans, Louisiana, promising to reform the justice system. However, Louisiana's Republican-controlled legislature and Governor Jeff Landry are now moving to eliminate Duncan's elected position before he can be sworn in.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between criminal justice reform efforts and entrenched political power structures. Duncan's election victory represented a landmark moment for a man who was wrongfully imprisoned, but the GOP's move to eliminate his position raises concerns about voter disenfranchisement and the undermining of democratic processes.

The details

Duncan won 68% of the vote in the November election, running on a platform to reform the justice system based on his own experience fighting to access court records while in maximum security prison. However, the Louisiana Senate has now 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 and Democrats argue it is a blatant attempt to disenfranchise voters.

  • Duncan's swearing in is scheduled for May 4, 2026.
  • In 2023, as state attorney general, Landry opposed Duncan's petition to be compensated for his wrongful conviction.
  • In 2021, a judge agreed that Duncan had been unjustly convicted and vacated his sentence.

The players

Calvin Duncan

A man who was imprisoned for nearly 30 years before being exonerated, and who recently won the election for the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court in New Orleans, Louisiana, promising to reform the justice system.

Jeff Landry

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

Liz Murrill

The successor to Landry as Louisiana's 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 the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court position.

Royce Duplessis

A Democratic state senator representing New Orleans who criticized the GOP's efforts to prevent Duncan from taking office.

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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

“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 the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court position, which would then be signed into law by Governor Landry. This would prevent Duncan from taking office despite his election victory.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between criminal justice reform efforts and entrenched political power structures. The GOP's move to eliminate Duncan's elected position before he can take office raises serious concerns about voter disenfranchisement and the undermining of democratic processes, even in the face of a clear electoral mandate for change.