Louisiana Republicans eliminate elected office won by Democratic exoneree

Louisiana Republicans eliminated an elected position days before a Democratic exoneree who overwhelmingly won the New Orleans-based post was set to take office on Monday. A temporary restraining order did allow the exoneree, Calvin Duncan, to take office as scheduled on Monday as the clerk of New Orleans’ criminal district courthouse – though it remained unclear how long his tenure may prove to be. The conservative governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, quietly signed legislation abolishing the longstanding New Orleans clerk of criminal court position into law on Thursday, according to the Louisiana secretary of state spokesperson, Trey Williams. Republicans say wiping away the office is a consolidation effort meant to make the local judicial system more efficient and cut costs. But Democrats describe the change as government overreach – arguing that it infringes on a predominantly Black city’s decision at the polls. Duncan, who spent nearly 30 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit, easily won election to the criminal court clerk position in November, beating the incumbent and earning more than two-thirds of the vote. At Duncan’s request, the New Orleans-based federal judge John deGravelles on Sunday ruled the law which eliminated his office was unconstitutional and issued a temporary restraining order which stopped it from taking effect. A statement from Duncan said he was “elated because the people’s right to vote is being honored”. …