Louisiana GOP racists to eliminate an elected office won by an exonerated man

[muriel_volestrangler]

(title changed to that first read by the Balloon Juice writer - as she says, more accurate, really)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A man imprisoned for nearly 30 years before being exonerated won a landmark election in New Orleans promising to fix a judicial system that failed him. Now, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and the GOP-controlled Legislature are racing to eliminate his job before he can be sworn in.

Calvin Duncan won 68% of the vote last November to become the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court after pledging to reform the justice system based on his own experience fighting to access court records while in maximum security prison.

Duncan rebuilt his life, in part by running for and winning the clerk’s office. But Louisiana Senate Republicans on Wednesday 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. The state Legislature is largely Republican and white, and the deeply red state has been leading efforts to gut the Voting Rights Act.
...
As state attorney general in 2023, Landry opposed Duncan’s petition to be compensated for his wrongful conviction. Duncan withdrew the petition after Landry’s successor, Liz Murrill, threatened to go after Duncan’s law license in the state. When Duncan ran for clerk, Murrill vowed to take “further action” against him if he did not stop calling himself “exonerated.”

https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-criminal-clerk-calvin-duncan-exonerated-d247677aa601a85cac604645d50fc739

Not Sure There’s a Word for Just How Abhorrent and Evil Louisiana Republicans Are

I am livid. It appears that this bill has passed the Louisiana Senate. No mention of the LA House or a governor’s signature.

Hoping this gets stopped in its tracks.

h/t Jackie for bringing the story to my attention.

*I first read the title as Louisiana GOP RACISTS to eliminate an elected office won by an exonerated man

I think my read on the title was more accurate.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/04/10/not-sure-theres-a-word-for-just-how-abhorrent-and-evil-louisiana-republicans-are/