The Louisiana Supreme Court has paused the criminal case against state Attorney General Liz Murrill. This decision came a day after her indictment on allegations of threatening officials’ jobs in New Orleans. The highest court in the state identified procedural errors by the local court and special prosecutor managing the indictment. Reports indicated a journalist was obstructed while covering the grand jury’s proceedings.
The case is temporarily paused. Murrill, affiliated with the Republican party, plans to request the case’s dismissal. The situation highlights tensions between Republican state leaders and Democratic-controlled New Orleans. In a statement, Murrill expressed concern over the political nature of the case, describing it as a ‘political witch hunt.’
The Supreme Court identified issues with the indictment. The 16-count indictment by a New Orleans grand jury accused Murrill, Louisiana’s first female attorney general, of intimidation and malfeasance. The court noted significant procedural problems with the charges. Justice Jay McCallum, a Republican, stated that the indictment seemed to improperly use the law.
Questions arose about conflicts of interest. Laurie White, the special prosecutor and former judge who brought the charges, is represented by the attorney general’s office in a separate lawsuit. Justice McCallum’s explanation highlighted that the intimidation laws require specific threats, which were not evident in this case. The court also suggested that the attorney general is likely to obtain a dismissal and would face harm if the case continued. The order had the support of four Republican justices and one Democrat, with dissent from another Democrat and an independent. Justice John Guidry criticized the swift decision.
The case’s roots are in political disputes. The controversy stems from Louisiana’s decision to eliminate the position of New Orleans criminal court clerk, integrating it with another. Calvin Duncan, recently elected to the abolished role, was once imprisoned before his conviction was vacated. GOP officials, including Murrill, have not recognized Duncan’s exoneration despite his listing on the National Registry of Exonerations. The court pointed to the fact that Duncan had representation from White earlier, presenting a conflict of interest.
Murrill had previously warned New Orleans officials of potential job loss for violating laws by supporting an unauthorized officeholder. She asserts that she acted within her professional capacity. Following the indictment, Governor Jeff Landry expressed his intention to pardon Murrill and ordered a state police investigation into the grand jury’s conduct. He thanked the Supreme Court for halting what he termed as a ‘political witch hunt’ against Murrill.