Calvin Duncan, exonerated after 28 years, won Orleans Parish Criminal Court Clerk runoff, defeating incumbent Darren Lombard.

Calvin Duncan, a formerly incarcerated man exonerated in 2021 after serving 28 years for murder, has won the Nov. 15, 2025, runoff for Orleans Parish Criminal Court Clerk, defeating incumbent Darren Lombard. Duncan, who earned a law degree post-release, campaigned on reform, citing issues with court record management and his own struggles to access documents during his exoneration. He out-raised Lombard and led by a 2-to-1 margin with most precincts reporting. Lombard, backed by prominent political figures, faced scrutiny over court records found at a dumpsite. The outcome marks a significant shift in the parish’s criminal court leadership amid ongoing legal and ethical concerns.