Louisiana’s Attorney General, Liz Murrill, faced a 16-count indictment on Thursday. The charges stemmed from allegations of threatening New Orleans leaders’ jobs. These officials had opposed a GOP-driven change in the local court system, a city largely dominated by Democrats.

A New Orleans grand jury charged Murrill with intimidation and malfeasance. The case highlights growing divides between Louisiana’s Republican leadership and Democrats controlling the major city.

Republican Governor Jeff Landry announced plans for a swift pardon. He dismissed the charges as the work of an “Orleans Kangaroo court.” New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, a Democrat, previously accused Murrill in May of making threats against city officials. Murrill labeled the case against her as “retaliatory, meritless, and unconstitutional.” She also stated on X that she filed for an emergency stay with 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, she wrote on X.

Political Rifts Deepen Over Court Reforms

For months, tensions rose between Louisiana Republicans and New Orleans officials. A new law abolished a court clerk position filled by Calvin Duncan, an exoneree who spent nearly 30 years in prison. The reform merged his job with another clerk’s office. Republican supporters claimed it would increase efficiency. New Orleans leaders strongly opposed the move. In May, the city council scheduled a special election to give Duncan another chance for the new position.

Murrill responded with letters, warning local officials of possible office loss for breaking “usurper” laws. These laws prohibit support for unauthorized officeholders.

We’re very interested in elected officials in New Orleans not being intimidated or threatened by letter or any other way, special prosecutor Laurie White told reporters.

Legal Battles and Investigations

Bond for Murrill was set at $400,000, as per court records. Governor Landry ordered state police to look into “alleged improprieties” of the grand jury.

The criminal justice system is a circus at its finest in Orleans and we will not have any of that! Landry wrote on X.

The Republican Attorneys General Association defended Murrill. It stated she was simply issuing a legal opinion as part of her duties. They described the indictment as both “outrageous” and “dangerous.”

Mayor Helena Moreno called the situation a “matter for the courts.” She focused on her responsibilities to New Orleans citizens.

Duncan Faces Job Loss and Pushback

Duncan accused state officials of targeting him. He claimed his job removal was a retaliatory act. Duncan, who secured 68% of the vote, highlighted his innocence on the National Registry of Exonerations. Murrill and Landry questioned this status based on a 2011 plea deal Duncan made before his release.

Duncan was a jailhouse lawyer who later graduated from law school. He founded a nonprofit to help incarcerated people access the court system. Duncan influenced a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended nonunanimous jury verdicts.

Duncan spent over 28 years in prison for a robbery-related shooting in 1981. Before a 2011 hearing, prosecutors offered a plea deal to time served. Duncan accepted and was released. He continued to pursue clearing his name. In 2021, a judge vacated his conviction entirely.