Louisiana Legislature abolishes clerk office won by exonerated man Duncan

Louisiana Republicans passed legislation on April 9, 2026, abolishing the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Clerk's office — the position Calvin Duncan had won by 33 percentage points three months earlier. Governor Jeff Landry had urged the legislature to pass the bill before Duncan's term began. Duncan sued the state, alleging the law was unconstitutional retaliation targeting a specific elected official and violated the Voting Rights Act. A federal judge later blocked the law from taking effect.