A New Orleans candidate’s murder conviction was tossed but the state still challenges his past

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Calvin Duncan faces attacks over his exoneration status

Louisiana AG and incumbent question his innocence

Duncan’s case influenced a landmark Supreme Court ruling

Election for New Orleans clerk of criminal court set for Saturday

A down-ballot race for New Orleans clerk of criminal court has turned contentious, as candidate Calvin Duncan, who spent three decades in prison before his conviction was vacated, faces attacks from Louisiana’s attorney general and the incumbent clerk over whether he was truly exonerated.

Duncan, 62, taught himself law while in prison and struggled for years access his records. He says that makes his quest to be the city’s chief criminal recordkeeper personal.

“I don’t never want to have what happened to me happen to nobody else,” said Dunc