Senate bill to merge Orleans Parish clerks of court clears Louisiana House committee

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A Louisiana House committee on Thursday cleared a controversial bill to merge the civil and criminal clerks of Orleans Parish, voting to abolish the latter over a wave of opposition from supporters of Calvin Duncan, the criminal clerk-elect and former 28-year state prisoner.

The 8-5 vote was the first in the House for a grip of bills by Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, that target the justice system in Orleans Parish and its leaders for substantial changes.

Following scathing cross-examination from critics of Senate Bill 256, Morris received enough favorable votes from the House Judiciary Committee to pass his bill to consolidate the clerk’s offices without amendments.

Under Morris’ plan, the merged office would fall under Chelsea Napoleon, the current civil court clerk.

Duncan, who beat out incumbent Darren Lombard in a resounding win last November, told the committee that he was being singled out for removal by Attorney General Liz Murrill and Gov. Jeff Landry. Duncan said that Murrill has long proven an obstacle, citing the attorney general’s opposition to his bid for compensation from the state for his years in prison.

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The committee’s vote to pass the measure followed hours of testimony. The bill now goes before the full House for what’s anticipated to be its final hurdle before reaching Landry’s desk.

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