What does the 4-3 Act 15 ruling mean for the Orleans criminal court, Chelsey Richard Napoleon, and Calvin Duncan?

Full Show 6/2/2026: The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court judges didn't treat the job with the importance demanded of it

On today's show, Newell shares his thoughts on the Louisiana Supreme Court ruling in a 4-3 split decision to uphold Act 15, a state law that eliminated the criminal court clerk position won by exoneree Calvin Duncan. Then, Newell has on Janatan Sayeh, an Iran analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to discuss the latest on the US/Iranian conflict, Daphine Barnes, Executive Director of Workforce for GNO Inc., to talk about the sixth year of the Innovation Internship Program, Dane Ciolino, a professor of law at Loyola, to talk about the Louisiana Supreme Court upholding the state law abolishing the separate Orleans Parish criminal clerk of court office, and Mayor Helena Moreno to discuss the major legislative priorities her administration achieved this session.

Moreno: "I got into this job to fix things; I didn't get into this job to keep things the same."

This hour, Newell is joined by Mayor Helena Moreno to discuss the passing of the Sewerage & Water Board Governance Legislation, establishing the Adjudicated Property Task Force to tackle New Orleans' pervasive blight crisis, finances for hurricane/storm emergencies, and the success of SAIL 250, which kicked off the national America 250 celebration.

Hour 2: The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the state law abolishing the separate Orleans Parish criminal clerk of court office

This hour, Newell has on Daphine Barnes, Executive Director of Workforce for GNO Inc., to talk about the sixth year of the Innovation Internship Program, an eight-week paid internship connecting college students with high-growth careers across Southeast Louisiana. Then, Dane Ciolino, a professor of law at Loyola, joins the show to talk about the Louisiana Supreme Court upholding the state law abolishing the separate Orleans Parish criminal clerk of court office.

What does the 4-3 Act 15 ruling mean for the Orleans criminal court, Chelsey Richard Napoleon, and Calvin Duncan?

In a 4-3 decision, the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld a state law (Act 15) that abolished the separate Orleans Parish criminal clerk of court office. The ruling transfers all criminal clerk duties to the civil clerk, Chelsey Richard Napoleon, and prevents Calvin Duncan, who was elected to the criminal clerk post, from taking office. Dane Ciolino, a professor of law at Loyola, joins Newell to talk about why the Court ruled that Act 15 was a valid, constitutional exercise of legislative power under the state constitution.

GNO's Innovation Internship Program is building a talent ecosystem for New Orleans

Daphine Barnes, Executive Director of Workforce for GNO Inc., joins Newell to talk about the sixth year of the Innovation Internship Program, an eight-week paid internship connecting college students with high-growth careers across Southeast Louisiana.