The Louisiana Supreme Court on Friday halted the criminal case against state Attorney General Liz Murrill, a day after she was indicted on accusations of threatening the jobs of New Orleans officials. The stay puts the case on hold, with Murrill vowing to seek dismissal.
Court Finds Procedural Flaws
The state’s top court ruled that the local court and special prosecutor failed to follow proper procedures, including reports that a journalist was handcuffed and locked out of the grand jury proceedings. The 16-count indictment accused Murrill, the state’s first female attorney general, with intimidation and malfeasance.
“This indictment appears to turn the law on its head and flows from what appear to be extraordinary procedural defects and improprieties,” the court said in a filing signed by Justice Jay McCallum, a Republican. The court noted likely conflicts of interest involving special prosecutor Laurie White, a former state judge, who is being defended by Murrill’s office against a sexual harassment lawsuit.
The court also found that the intimidation charge requires threats of bodily harm or death, which were not alleged. It said Murrill is likely to succeed in having the case dismissed and would suffer irreparable harm if it proceeds.
Political Divisions Exposed
The case highlights a deep rift between Republican state officials and Democrats controlling New Orleans. Murrill called it “a political witch hunt.” The order was supported by all four Republican justices and one Democrat; one Democrat and an independent dissented. Justice John Guidry, a Democrat, criticized the quick decision, writing, “Due process and equal protection under the law does not allow anyone to cut the line.”
Background: Court System Shake-Up
The indictment stems from a political battle after Louisiana abolished the New Orleans criminal court clerk position, merging it with another. Calvin Duncan, exonerated after decades in prison, was elected to the criminal clerk office before the merger. Murrill and other GOP officials have refused to acknowledge his innocence, though he is on the National Registry of Exonerations.
The court noted White previously represented Duncan, creating a conflict. Murrill sent a letter to New Orleans officials warning they could lose their offices for supporting an unauthorized officeholder. Murrill said she was doing her job.
Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, said he would pardon Murrill and ordered state police to investigate the grand jury’s alleged improprieties. He thanked the Supreme Court and called the indictment “a political witch hunt.”
