Slow strolling to a fascist state
New Orleans appears to be America’s test kitchen for policy and decision-making blunders, missteps, and miscalculations. Whether it is the complete failure of Hurricane Katrina preparation, mass evacuation, and revitalization, the nation’s first all-charter school system, or the latest which includes legislation to have a state appointed clerk of court.
I don’t live in New Orleans anymore, but I live in Shreveport. Louisiana’s third largest city which also holds a Black majority. So when local autonomy and control become an issue in New Orleans the rest of the state and the nation should take note.
The current issue revolves Calvin Duncan who was wrongly convicted of armed robbery at 19, and fought for his freedom until he was released in 2011 with the help of the Innocence Project of New Orleans, and later exonerated. Harris took advantage of his second chance by earning a BS Tulane University, then attending Lewis and Clark University going from jailhouse lawyer to Juris Doctorate. In 2021 his convicted was found to be unconstitutional and convicted vacated. This would be the end of a Hollywood feelgood movie except. It should be noted that when Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry was the state’s Attorney General he opposed Duncan’s petition to be compensated in 2023.
In 2024, Duncan ran for Orleans Parish Clerk of Court winning an overwhelming majority of votes.
The state’s remedy, eliminate the office altogether through a series of bills that would “overhaul” the criminal court system in New Orleans, essentially merging the criminal court clerks office with civil. The legislation was rushed through without speaking to sitting judges, Civil Court Clerk Chelsea Richard Napoleon - the author admitting not speaking to anyone who could have expressed a valid opinion, or data points to explain why this legislation was fiscally sound. He didn’t feel the need because Senator Jay Morris obviously takes his marching orders from Governor Landry. There’s no way the residents of District 35 who reside in Monroe and surrounding towns care a whole lot about the judicial makeup of Orleans Parish. Nor will they benefit greatly from the less than $50K that elimating that position will save.
So why should Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Memphis and other cities with majority Black populations care about Louisiana politics. Well if they have a governor that is absolutely smitten with el Presidente its the fascism flirtations that you should find frightening. I mean the president’s convictions are part of the public record and he monetized his mugshot.
The real reason it matters is because the state saying to voters - your vote doesn’t count. The will of the state to make an unnecessary change that won’t have a great benefit statewide is greater than the collective power of the people. The idea that the state can eliminate a position that serves voters’ constitutional rights with zero consultation, without investigating potential outcomes, or even weighing the strain it may place on the criminal justice process in New Orleans.
Governance via vibes is crazy and if you aren’t paying attention to your state and local government, I guess you love living la vida vibes or whatever.
