Stand for Justice Acadiana

Please join Innocence & Justice Louisiana (formerly Innocence Project New Orleans) for our 6^th Annual Stand For Justice, Acadiana!

This celebration will take place at the Downtown Convention Center on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 5:30pm-8:30pm. This year, we will be honoring Frank Neuner with our annual Justice Award and Calvin Duncan will join us as our featured presenter.

We are honoring Frank for his steadfast commitment to justice and fairness. Even though Frank did not practice criminal law, as the president of the Louisiana State Bar Association during Hurricane Katrina, he saw how broken our criminal legal system had become and became a force to change it. As the first Chair of the newly created Louisiana Public Defender Board in 2008, Frank helped to transform the public defender system in Louisiana by overseeing its transition into a state-wide public defender system that could better weather unexpected events.  This is quintessential Frank Neuner. He sees a need and does all he can to support it.  We are honored to be able to recognize the many contributions Frank has made in furtherance of justice.

Also, our former client Calvin Duncan will join us to discuss his journey from 28 years of wrongful incarceration to winning his freedom, proving his innocence, obtaining his law degree, and being elected the Clerk of Criminal District Court for Orleans Parish this past Fall. His incredible story of securing his freedom and the freedom of others who were incarcerated is detailed in his book The Jailhouse Lawyer (co-written with Sophie Cull).

Please reach out to Erica Williams (EricaW@JusticeLouisiana.org) with any questions.