Trendpills
Calvin Duncan, a man who spent nearly three decades in a Louisiana prison for a murder conviction that was later overturned, has won the election to become the next New Orleans criminal court clerk. His victory marks a dramatic turn in a life defined by a long battle against the same justice system he will now help manage.
Duncan was convicted of murder in 1985 and spent the next 28 and a half years at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola. While incarcerated, he became a 'jailhouse lawyer,' teaching himself law to challenge his own sentence and assist other inmates. His conviction was ultimately vacated in 2011 after the U.S. Supreme Court found that prosecutors had unconstitutionally withheld evidence that could have proven his innocence. His personal experience of struggling for years to access his own case files heavily influenced his quest to become the city's chief recordkeeper.
Duncan’s campaign centered on a promise to modernize the clerk's office by digitizing records and ensuring they are easily accessible to the public, defendants, and lawyers. He argued that a transparent and efficient records system is crucial for preventing wrongful convictions. “I don’t never want to have what happened to me happen to nobody else,” Duncan stated during his campaign, framing his candidacy as a mission to bring fairness and accountability to the office.
The race was not without controversy. During the campaign, both the incumbent clerk and the Louisiana Attorney General challenged Duncan's narrative, questioning whether he was truly exonerated or if his case was simply dismissed on a legal technicality. Despite these attacks, the contentious down-ballot race resonated with voters. After leading in the primary, Duncan secured victory in a runoff election, a result seen by his supporters as a mandate for systemic reform. His election coincides with the passage of Louisiana's “Fair Chance” amendment, which aims to reduce barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking employment, further signaling a shift in public attitude toward criminal justice reform. Local coverage of the election noted the significance of his leadership in the vote.
