Attorney General Liz Murrill
The Louisiana Supreme Court has issued a stay of the 16-count indictment against Attorney General Liz Murrill. It took only a few hours for the state’s highest court to react to an Orleans Parish grand jury’s decision to charge Murrill with eight counts of public intimidation and eight counts of malfeasance in office, but those charges are on hold for now.
The indictment stemmed from letters Murrill sent to several New Orleans elected officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno, telling them they could be removed from office if they continue to make moves that went against a newly enacted state law that consolidates the Orleans Parish civil and criminal district courts.
Special prosecutor Laurie White said Murrill broke Louisiana’s law that prohibits public intimidation and retaliation.
“We’re very interested in elected officials in New Orleans not being intimidated or threatened by letter or any other way,” said White.
The attorney representing Murrill, Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, said the elected officials who received the letters violated the state’s usurper laws by defying a newly passed law approved by state lawmakers, and the state’s highest court backed her position.
“She is legally required to uphold the law, and the (Louisiana) Supreme Court said she was correct,” said Rodrigue. “What she says about the law was correct. That was accurate.”
The Louisiana Supreme Court blocked the special election and ordered Chelsey Richard Napoleon to serve as consolidated clerk as required by state law.
The indictment of Murrill is the latest in a growing rift between leaders in New Orleans and Governor Jeff Landry and his attorney general. White said Murrill was trying to intimidate the public officials with her letters
“Aren’t we a little tired as New Orleanians also having everyone in the state kicking New Orleans, and why would we want people to be afraid to run for office if they’re going to be intimidated?” said White.
Before the Louisiana Supreme Court stepped in, there was a warrant out for Murrill’s arrest and her bond was set at $400,000, $25,000 for each felony count.
Rodrigue believes that’s excessive.
“We’re not seeing that on crimes of violence in the city of New Orleans,” said Rodrigue. “So really think about that, and apply that and ask yourselves, ‘What does that say about the city of New Orleans in terms of criminal justice?'”
Governor Jeff Landry said Murrill was indicted by a kangaroo grand jury and added that the criminal justice system in New Orleans is a circus. He said if the case somehow ended up with a conviction, he’ll pardon her as fast the law allows.
In a statement, Murrill called the indictment retaliatory, meritless and unconstitutional.
The AG filed an emergency supervisory writ with the Louisiana Supreme Court, which led tothe Louisiana Supreme Court granting Murrill’s motion for a stay of her indictment, which means the court has temporarily paused all legal action because of how grand jury proceedings went down.
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