NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Calvin Duncan, a man who spent three decades incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, has been elected as the clerk of criminal court in New Orleans with a significant majority, garnering 68% of the vote despite ongoing challenges to his past.
Duncan's legal battle began after he was convicted for a 1981 murder, but years later, he uncovered compelling evidence proving his innocence, including instances where police officers lied during his trial. This allowed a judge to vacate his conviction in 2021.
In the October primary, Duncan initially won 47% of the vote, forcing a runoff against incumbent Darren Lombard, who received 46%. Ultimately, Duncan secured his place in office during the Nov. 15 runoff.
Despite being listed in the National Registry of Exonerations and having over 160 legal professionals supporting his innocence, Duncan faced opposition from Lombard, who publicly questioned his guilt. The Louisiana Attorney General also disputed Duncan's exoneration, but a public letter reaffirmed Duncan's innocence.
Duncan, now 62, emerged from incarceration with newfound legal expertise. Upon his release, he became a lawyer and played a crucial role in advocating for legal reforms, such as the end to non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana and Oregon — practices dating back to the Jim Crow era.
His election marks a transformative moment for the New Orleans criminal court system, which, despite moving towards digitization, still relies heavily on paper records. Duncan aims to ensure fair treatment and respectful management of court documents, highlighting past incidents where crucial records were lost. In his new role, Duncan plans to advocate for improvements within the office to prevent such occurrences in the future and to maintain the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Duncan's legal battle began after he was convicted for a 1981 murder, but years later, he uncovered compelling evidence proving his innocence, including instances where police officers lied during his trial. This allowed a judge to vacate his conviction in 2021.
In the October primary, Duncan initially won 47% of the vote, forcing a runoff against incumbent Darren Lombard, who received 46%. Ultimately, Duncan secured his place in office during the Nov. 15 runoff.
Despite being listed in the National Registry of Exonerations and having over 160 legal professionals supporting his innocence, Duncan faced opposition from Lombard, who publicly questioned his guilt. The Louisiana Attorney General also disputed Duncan's exoneration, but a public letter reaffirmed Duncan's innocence.
Duncan, now 62, emerged from incarceration with newfound legal expertise. Upon his release, he became a lawyer and played a crucial role in advocating for legal reforms, such as the end to non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana and Oregon — practices dating back to the Jim Crow era.
His election marks a transformative moment for the New Orleans criminal court system, which, despite moving towards digitization, still relies heavily on paper records. Duncan aims to ensure fair treatment and respectful management of court documents, highlighting past incidents where crucial records were lost. In his new role, Duncan plans to advocate for improvements within the office to prevent such occurrences in the future and to maintain the integrity of the criminal justice system.
