From Wrongful Conviction to Legal Advocate: Calvin Duncan Visits California Western

The California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic (formerly California Innocence Project) recently welcomed acclaimed legal advocate, educator, and author Calvin Duncan for a conversation about wrongful conviction, access to justice, and the transformative power of legal education. 

The event drew a large audience of students, faculty, alumni, legal professionals, and community members eager to hear Duncan’s extraordinary story. In conversation with Professor Amy Kimpel, Associate Dean of Experiential Education and Executive Director of the California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic, Duncan reflected on his nearly three decades spent incarcerated in Louisiana prisons for a crime he did not commit and the path that ultimately led him to become a law student, educator, and nationally recognized advocate for incarcerated people. 

As detailed in his memoir, The Jailhouse Lawyer, while serving a sentence of life without parole, Duncan began teaching himself the law and helping hundreds of fellow incarcerated individuals challenge wrongful convictions, unjust sentences, and prison conditions. His efforts went on to contribute to landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions that helped define the boundaries of reversible prosecutorial misconduct in Smith v. Cain 565 U.S. 73 (2012) and declared the use of non-unanimous juries as unconstitutional in Ramos v. Louisiana 590 U.S. 83 (2020). 

“What makes Calvin Duncan’s story stand out is that it’s so much more than just a story of his own exoneration,” said Innocence and Justice Clinic Executive Director Amy Kimpel. “It’s a story of his journey from a person impacted by a deeply flawed criminal legal system to a person capable of using the law as vehicle to empower both himself and his community—the other men he was incarcerated with in Angola Prison.”

Calvin Duncan in conversation with Innocence and Justice Clinic Executive Director Amy Kimpel.

Throughout the discussion, Duncan emphasized the law as a powerful tool for pursuing justice, and that going to law school provides people with that power. He emphasized that many of the amendments in the Bill of Rights exist to protect individuals accused of crimes. Duncan spoke on the barriers incarcerated people face when attempting to access legal resources and court records, and the procedural obstacles that often prevent legitimate claims from being heard. 

The conversation also explored the historical roots of many inequities within the criminal legal system. Drawing from his own experience in Louisiana, Duncan discussed policies rooted in racial discrimination, including Louisiana's long-standing practice of allowing non-unanimous jury verdicts in certain felony cases, which remained in place until it was ruled unconstitutional in 2020. 

“Attending Calvin’s event was a very emotional experience,” said 2L Innocence and Justice Clinic student Victoria Lara. “Because of his lived experiences, he was able to speak with such conviction and passion. His plea to the students, staff, and faculty there was also inspiring as he urged everyone to use their power, privilege, and legal education to help others and “pass along” the knowledge we get for the good of others.”

Another key message from Duncan’s story was about community and collaboration. He described how meaningful legal change often depends on people working together to uncover injustice and advocate for themselves.  

Attendees were also able to participate in a lively question-and-answer session and continue conversations with Duncan following the event. 

This visit from Calvin Duncan offered more than a firsthand account of one man's remarkable journey. It was an opportunity to reflect on the role the law and lawyers can play in advancing justice, challenging systemic barriers, and ensuring that the protections promised by the law are accessible to everyone. 

Calvin Duncan with Associate Director of the Innocence and Justice Clinic Lindsey Mercer and Miguel Solorio, an exoneree and former client of the clinic.