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The 2026 Louisiana Legislative Session has come to a close, and once again, those impacted by non-unanimous jury convictions were left without a path to relief. This year brought both disappointment and determination. HB 532 was never granted the opportunity to be heard. HB 1065 failed to advance. HB 219, championed by Representative Edmond Jordan Owens, was ultimately tabled before it could face the same fate as previous efforts. While many viewed this as another setback, it

This past weekend, something powerful happened. During visitation at Louisiana State Penitentiary, men currently incarcerated under non-unanimous (10–2) jury verdicts created and distributed this flyer to their loved ones. Not lawyers. Not organizations. Not lawmakers. The men themselves!! Men who have lived the reality of a system the United States Supreme Court has already declared unconstitutional. Men who are still waiting. Still hoping. Still fighting to be heard. What y

At JAI Foundation, we often say that behind every case is a person, and behind every person is a family still waiting. One powerful story was shared through the Burden of Guilt podcast—one that echoes far too many we have come to know. Jermaine Hudson’s life, like many, was shaped by early hardship and encounters with the system. But what should have been just another moment—a traffic stop—became the turning point that led to a life sentence inside one of America’s harshest

In November, the people of New Orleans made a clear and powerful choice. Calvin Duncan, a man who spent nearly 30 years imprisoned for a crime he did not commit; was elected with 68% of the vote to serve as Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal Court. His campaign was rooted in something deeply personal: reforming the very system that once failed him. Duncan knows firsthand what it means to fight for access to justice. While incarcerated, he struggled to obtain court records, som

Families and communities impacted by Louisiana’s 10–2 non-unanimous jury injustice are asking you to stand with us. Click the link in our bio and send a letter to the Senate urging them to VOTE NO on SB215. The 6th Amendment was created to protect fairness in our courts—to ensure that guilt is decided by 12 jurors, unanimously, beyond a reasonable doubt. SB215 does not restore that right. Instead, it introduces a 5-judge panel—appointed, not a jury of peers. That is not what

At the JAI Foundation, we know how overwhelming this moment can feel. With multiple bills being discussed in Louisiana—especially those addressing individuals convicted under non-unanimous jury verdicts—families are being asked to process complex legal changes while carrying the weight of deeply personal realities. We want you to know this: you are not alone in this. Understanding What’s Happening Right Now There are ongoing legislative efforts that claim to address the injus

This past weekend, the JAI Foundation hosted our first community Easter event in Windsor - and what unfolded was nothing short of beauty of Gods work. Despite thunderstorms earlier in the day and again later that evening, the skies cleared right when it mattered most. In that moment, our community showed up... strong, present, and full of love. Families gathered, children laughed and played, and for a few hours, we created a space rooted in connection, joy, and purpose. But

Across Louisiana, hundreds of individuals remain incarcerated under a system that has already been declared unconstitutional. For decades, people could be convicted by non-unanimous jury verdicts — 10–2 decisions that denied the full protection of a unanimous jury. While this practice has since been ruled unconstitutional, many individuals are still serving sentences under those verdicts today. House Bill 219 (HB 219) represents a critical step toward addressing this injusti