Indictment of Louisiana’s Attorney General Sparks Political Tensions

Political Turmoil in Louisiana

Louisiana’s Attorney General Liz Murrill, the state’s first female in the position and a Republican, was indicted on Thursday by a New Orleans grand jury. The indictment accuses her of threatening the jobs of New Orleans leaders who opposed a Republican-driven change in the city’s court system. She faces 16 counts, including intimidation and malfeasance.

This indictment highlights the widening political divide between heavily Republican state leaders and the Democratic-controlled city of New Orleans. Governor Jeff Landry, also a Republican, promised to pardon Murrill promptly. He dismissed the charges as a product of an “Orleans Kangaroo court,” aiming to protect Murrill’s reputation.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, a Democrat, had previously alleged that Murrill threatened public officials in May. Murrill countered by describing the case as retaliatory, unmeritorious, and unconstitutional. Following the indictment, she announced on the social media platform X that she sought an emergency stay from the Louisiana Supreme Court.

“I will not back down. I will continue enforcing the law, fighting corruption, and doing the job the people of Louisiana elected me to do,” Murrill emphasized.

Background of the Legal Battle

The political conflict has intensified for months over legislation that abolished a court clerk office won by Calvin Duncan, an exoneree who spent nearly 30 years in prison. The law consolidated Duncan’s position with another clerk’s office, aiming to improve efficiency. However, New Orleans officials opposed the move. The city council attempted to hold a special election in May, which could have allowed Duncan to reclaim the newly combined office.

Murrill responded by warning local leaders through letters, suggesting they might lose their positions due to violating state laws against unauthorized officeholders. Special prosecutor Laurie White stressed the importance of ensuring New Orleans officials are not intimidated.

Bond and Investigations

On Thursday, Murrill’s bond was set at $400,000. Court records confirmed this, prompting Governor Landry to order a state police investigation into the grand jury’s conduct, citing “alleged improprieties.” Landry referred to the criminal justice system in Orleans as a “circus.”

The Republican Attorneys General Association defended Murrill, stating that her actions were part of her official duties and termed the indictment as “outrageous.” They explained that communicating with local officials in writing constitutes a legal opinion intended as a warning about the law.

Political Statements and Duncan’s Perspective

Mayor Moreno, elected in January, remained focused on her responsibilities and described the issue as a “matter for the courts.” She did not directly address the accusations against Murrill.

Calvin Duncan expressed that the state’s actions were retaliatory after he won the job with 68% of the vote. Murrill and Landry have consistently refused to accept Duncan’s exoneration, even though he is listed on the National Registry of Exonerations.

Republicans involved asserted that the consolidation of the clerk offices was not personal and cited similar structures in other parishes as precedent.

Duncan, a former jailhouse lawyer, graduated from law school and founded a nonprofit to help incarcerated individuals access the court system. He played a significant role in a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended nonunanimous jury convictions. Duncan spent over 28 years in prison for a fatal shooting during a 1981 robbery. Although he accepted a plea deal in 2011 that freed him, he continued efforts to clear his name. A judge vacated his sentence in 2021, declaring the conviction unjust.

Landry and Murrill have pointed to Duncan’s 2011 plea deal, challenging his claim of exoneration.

Associated Press writer Jack Brook contributed to the reporting from New Orleans.