A Louisiana exoneree who won election to a New Orleans clerk seat has begun work after a federal judge temporarily blocked the state from eliminating the position
Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed legislation abolishing the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court position just days before exoneree Calvin Duncan was set to take office after winning the election with 68% of the vote. The consolidation merges the civil and criminal court clerks' offices, saving the state $27,000 and the city $233,000 while shifting $1.17 million in expenditures to the parish. Democrats criticize the move as government overreach that disenfranchises a predominantly Black parish's voters.
Louisiana lawmakers sent a bill to the governor Wednesday abolishing the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court position won by Calvin Duncan, an exoneree who served nearly 30 years before his murder conviction was vacated in 2021. The decision has ignited outrage among exonerees nationwide who see it as reflective of the biases and stigmas they face when trying to rebuild their lives, including systemic employment discrimination despite their innocence.
Exonerees across the U.S. share their struggles finding employment after wrongful convictions, with many facing persistent stigma despite being cleared of crimes. A Louisiana bill to abolish an elected position won by an exoneree has amplified concerns about systemic bias against wrongly convicted individuals seeking to rebuild their lives.
