Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry (R)
Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion that says Governor John Bel Edwards’ statewide mask mandate, order to close bars and limit on group gatherings is likely unconstitutional and unenforceable.
Landry advises all state law enforcement agencies to exercise extreme caution when enforcing these orders, but Edwards says there’s no question the law is on his side.
“It is clearly within the legal authority that I have under the statues in Louisiana dealing with the public health emergency and afforded me under the constitution,” said Edwards.
Governor Edwards says the letter is an about-face from the Attorney General.
“On March the 18th he came to GOHSEP and stood with me and talked about how extraordinary measures were necessary to protect the people of our state during the crisis, he encouraged Louisianans to follow my directives,” says Edwards.
Landry counters that he agreed to grant the Governor this authority early in the pandemic when medical capacity was at a breaking point, but that isn’t the case now.
Landry is in self-quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 and missed the Vice President’s visit to Baton Rouge Monday. Edwards wished Landry well, but says “He had been with us he would have heard the Vice President numerous times express complete support for the actions we have taken here.”
The A-G issued the legal opinion at the behest of eight Republican legislators who were seeking input on the legality of the recent orders.
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