Calvin Duncan spent over 28 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. While incarcerated, he became a self-taught jailhouse lawyer, helping other incarcerated people understand the law and access the courts. He played a pivotal role in challenging the state’s use of non-unanimous jury verdicts—an effort that ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court and led to Ramos v. Louisiana, a landmark ruling that transformed Louisiana’s justice system.

Since his release, Calvin earned his paralegal degree, graduated from Tulane University, and went on to earn a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School. Calvin clerked for civil rights lawyers, and co-founded several organizations that support individuals reentering society. He has presented testimony to the Louisiana Legislature and featured as a speaker to Universities across the nation, including Harvard, Berkeley and Stanford Law Schools. In 2025, Calvin received an honorary law degree from Loyola Law School for his outstanding impact on Louisiana’s legal reforms.

His work has been featured by The New York Times, The ABA Journal, and many others. In recognition of his service Calvin has received many awards including a Soros Justice Fellowship Grant and Echoing Green Fellowship. Calvin also released his new memoir, co-authored with Sophie Cull, called The Jailhouse Lawyer.

Calvin now stands ready to serve the public in a new way—as the Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal Court.