On Wednesday, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill had felony charges against her dismissed by a special prosecutor. Murrill was accused of threatening the jobs of New Orleans officials who opposed a Republican-led change to the city’s court system.
The case had been paused shortly after Murrill’s indictment on July 2, with the Louisiana Supreme Court determining that proper procedures were not followed. Just a day before the case dismissal, New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams, Mayor Helena Moreno, and five City Council members sent a letter urging the prosecutor to drop the charges.
Murrill, a Republican, expressed her relief on social media, stating, “This case should have NEVER been started because there was NO crime. This outcome will not deter my efforts to get to the bottom of this. The irresponsible and illegal actions that led to this abuse of the criminal justice system need to never happen again.”
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Orleans Parish court records show that the letters from the City Council and the District Attorney were submitted to a judge before the case was officially closed. The special prosecutor, Laurie White, did not respond immediately to requests for comments regarding the dismissal.
This case highlights the growing tensions between Louisiana’s Republican leadership and the Democratic officials in New Orleans. Republican Governor Jeff Landry had promised to pardon Murrill, calling the local court system a “Kangaroo court.” Meanwhile, Mayor Moreno accused Murrill of making threats against public officials back in May.
Murrill was initially indicted on 16 counts, including intimidation and malfeasance. The conflict arose from a new law that removed a court clerk office that had been held by Calvin Duncan, an exoneree who spent nearly 30 years in prison. Supporters of the law argued that it would streamline the judicial process, but local leaders opposed the change.
In response to the law, the City Council planned a special election to give Duncan a chance to win the newly combined position. Murrill warned local officials in letters that they could face losing their jobs for violating state laws regarding unauthorized officeholders.
This situation sheds light on the political divide within Louisiana, showcasing the clash between the state’s Republican leadership and the Democratic governance of New Orleans.
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Associated Press reporter Jack Brook contributed to this story.
