About Calvin Duncan

Calvin Duncan is a nationally recognized criminal justice advocate, attorney, author, and the founder of The Light of Justice Program, which helps incarcerated individuals navigate the legal system and gain meaningful access to the courts. Raised in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, Calvin was wrongfully convicted at age 19 and spent 28½ years incarcerated at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola before his release was secured by the Innocence Project of New Orleans in 2011.

While imprisoned, Calvin became a self-taught legal scholar, serving for more than two decades as a jailhouse lawyer and assisting people facing capital punishment and life sentences. After his release, he earned undergraduate and law degrees, continued advocating for criminal justice reform, and helped lead the successful challenge to Louisiana’s non-unanimous jury system. His journey from wrongful conviction survivor to legal advocate and movement leader is a testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of lived experience to transform the justice system.