Charges Dismissed Against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill
On Wednesday, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill saw felony criminal charges against her dismissed by a special prosecutor. Murrill had been indicted over allegations of threatening the jobs of New Orleans officials who opposed a Republican-led judicial reform in the predominantly Democratic city.
The case faced an immediate pause following the July 2 indictment when the Louisiana Supreme Court cited procedural errors by the local court and special prosecutor. The dismissal, carried out by special prosecutor Laurie White, followed a plea from New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams, Democratic Mayor Helena Moreno, and five City Council members, who collectively urged her to drop the case.
Murrill, a Republican, expressed relief, stating, “What I did was not a crime, it was never a crime. I think this was a malicious prosecution.” The issue underscores a growing divide between Republican state leaders and Democratic officials in Louisiana’s largest city.
White submitted letters from city officials and the prosecutor to the court before dismissing the counts against Murrill, after which the case was officially closed. In a statement, White defended her actions as fulfilling her duty and noted the indictment was issued by a grand jury.
White also mentioned concerns about interference in the case, describing it as “truly unfortunate” but did not elaborate further. She declined to provide additional comments when reached by phone.
Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, had pledged a swift pardon for Murrill, criticizing the process as an “Orleans Kangaroo court.” At a press event discussing state preparations for Tropical Storm Bertha, Landry called for state and federal investigations into the indictment’s origins.
In May, Mayor Moreno was among those accusing Murrill of making threats against public officials. The 16-count indictment from a New Orleans grand jury charged Murrill with intimidation and malfeasance.
The controversy is rooted in political tensions over a new law abolishing a court clerk’s office previously secured by exoneree Calvin Duncan, who spent nearly 30 years in prison. The legislation merged the office with another clerk’s position, a move Republicans argued would streamline the judicial system. New Orleans officials opposed this change, and the City Council planned a special election for Duncan to contest the new office.
Murrill responded by warning local authorities that they risked losing their positions for supporting an unauthorized officeholder, citing state “usurper” laws. She explained, “I didn’t write that law. The Legislature wrote that law. I just explained it to them.”
Murrill viewed the indictment as an attempt at extortion and public intimidation, saying it aimed to punish her for fulfilling her official duties. Despite the threatening tone of her communications, New Orleans leaders stated they were not intimidated and continued their public service unabated.
