OPINION | True exoneration: What Calvin Duncan’s runoff means for New Orleans justice – The Tulane Hullabaloo

Report on the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Clerk Election and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

An analysis of the October 11 primary election for the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Clerk reveals significant issues pertinent to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Election Overview and Candidate Backgrounds

The primary election featured incumbent Darren Lombard and challenger Calvin Duncan. The race has advanced to a runoff election scheduled for November 15, following a narrow margin in the initial vote.

• Calvin Duncan: Received 47.04% of the vote. Duncan’s candidacy is notable due to his personal history with the justice system. He was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1982, serving 28 years before his exoneration in 2011. His case is listed in the National Registry of Exonerations.
• Darren Lombard: The incumbent, who received 46.36% of the vote. Lombard’s campaign, along with the Louisiana Attorney General, has questioned the validity of Duncan’s exoneration, citing a plea deal Duncan states was coerced.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The election campaign and its central conflict directly engage with the principles of the SDGs, highlighting challenges and opportunities for building a more just and equitable society.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This election serves as a critical case study for SDG 16, which aims to promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies by providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable institutions.

1. Access to Justice: Duncan’s wrongful conviction underscores systemic failures that deny individuals access to justice. His subsequent work to assist other incarcerated individuals and his candidacy for a key institutional role represent efforts to reform the very system that failed him.
2. Accountable Institutions: The public debate surrounding Duncan’s exoneration tests the integrity and accountability of the legal system. The questioning of a formal exoneration by public officials raises concerns about institutional trust and the finality of judicial processes.
3. Reimagining Justice: The runoff election presents voters with a choice regarding the nature of their justice institutions. Duncan’s candidacy challenges the community to consider whether its institutions can support rehabilitation and reintegration, or if they perpetuate stigma, thereby undermining the goal of a truly inclusive society.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The issues at the forefront of this election are deeply connected to SDG 10, which calls for reducing inequality within and among countries.

• Systemic Inequities: The article notes that New Orleans is shaped by inequities in policing and incarceration, which disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Wrongful convictions are a severe manifestation of this systemic inequality.
• Social and Economic Reintegration: The persistent questioning of Duncan’s innocence, despite legal exoneration, highlights the social barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face. This stigma can prevent full social and economic participation, perpetuating a cycle of inequality that SDG 10 seeks to dismantle.

Conclusion: A Referendum on Justice and Inclusivity

The runoff election for the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Clerk is more than a political contest; it is a referendum on the community’s commitment to the principles of justice, accountability, and equality. The outcome will have significant implications for public trust in legal institutions and will reflect the city’s capacity to build a society that aligns with the core tenets of SDG 16 and SDG 10, where justice is restorative and institutions are truly inclusive.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article’s central theme revolves around the justice system, its fallibility, and the potential for reform. It discusses wrongful conviction, exoneration, and an election for a key position within the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. The narrative of Calvin Duncan, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 28 years, directly highlights issues of justice. The article questions the effectiveness and fairness of legal institutions, stating, “The same system that once failed Duncan continues to fail countless others, from wrongful arrests to overpoliced neighborhoods.”

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article touches upon systemic inequalities and social exclusion. It mentions that New Orleans is “deeply shaped by inequities in policing and incarceration.” Furthermore, it explores the social inequality faced by an exonerated individual, where “the stain of accusation lingers” and “exoneration does not guarantee forgiveness.” This social stigma acts as a barrier to full reintegration and equal opportunity, which is a form of inequality based on one’s past status as an accused person.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Targets under SDG 16

1. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   Calvin Duncan’s wrongful conviction and subsequent exoneration after 28 years exemplify a failure in the rule of law. His experience, and his work while incarcerated to “help other incarcerated people navigate the justice system,” directly relate to the challenge of ensuring equal access to justice. The article’s core question about whether the system believes in “second chances” is a call to strengthen the application of justice for all.

2. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

   The election for the clerk of the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court is a democratic process aimed at ensuring the accountability of a key legal institution. The article frames the election as a choice about “what kind of justice New Orleans believes in,” which underscores the public’s role in shaping more effective and accountable institutions.

3. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

   An exonerated man, Calvin Duncan, running for public office represents a significant step towards inclusive and participatory decision-making. His candidacy brings a representative voice from a community directly impacted by the justice system’s failures into the political arena. The election itself, with detailed vote percentages provided, is a direct example of a participatory process.

Targets under SDG 10

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… other status.

   The article highlights the struggle for the political and social inclusion of an individual with the status of being formerly incarcerated and exonerated. Duncan’s campaign is an act of empowerment and a challenge to the social exclusion he faces, as opponents use his past to “exploit public doubt.” His run for office is a direct attempt at political inclusion.

2. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory… practices.

   The narrative describes the discriminatory practice of social stigmatization, where “accusations can outlast evidence, and how quickly redemption can be undermined by the mere suggestion of guilt.” This practice creates an inequality of outcome, denying exonerated individuals a true “clean slate” and equal opportunity. The article’s reference to “inequities in policing and incarceration” also points to systemic issues that lead to unequal outcomes.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

• Number of wrongful convictions and exonerations: The article explicitly mentions that Duncan’s name “now appears in the National Registry of Exonerations.” This registry serves as a direct, quantifiable indicator of failures within the justice system, which is relevant to measuring progress towards Target 16.3.
• Voter participation in local elections for judicial positions: The article provides specific data on the primary election results: “Duncan receiving 47.04% of the vote, and Lombard receiving 46.36% of the vote.” These figures are indicators of public participation in the process of holding judicial institutions accountable, aligning with Targets 16.6 and 16.7.

Indicators for SDG 10 Targets

• Proportion of positions in public institutions held by individuals from marginalized groups: Calvin Duncan’s candidacy for a public office is a qualitative indicator of political inclusion. If he were to win, it would become a quantitative measure of a member of a marginalized group (the exonerated) holding a position in a public institution, relevant to Target 10.2.
• Public perception of exonerated individuals: While not a formal UN indicator, the article implies its importance. The success of a campaign that “leaned heavily on fear and skepticism, exploiting public doubt about Duncan’s past” can be seen as an indicator of prevailing social prejudice. A shift in voter behavior away from such tactics would indicate progress in reducing discriminatory attitudes, as discussed in relation to Target 10.3.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: tulanehullabaloo.com