Louisiana law ends elected clerk post as exoneree takes office amid court fight

Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill abolishing the elected New Orleans clerk of criminal court, a post won by exoneree Calvin Duncan, who briefly took office before a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to pause the change. The law seeks to consolidate clerical offices to save money and improve efficiency, but Democrats call it an overreach that could disenfranchise voters in a predominantly Black city; the measure faces ongoing lawsuits and possible appeals to the Fifth Circuit.