Louisiana high court issues stay in case against AG Liz Murrill

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The Louisiana Supreme Court on Friday morning issued a stay in the indictment of state Attorney General Liz Murrill (R), less than a day after a New Orleans grand jury handed up the charges.

Murrill was charged with 16 counts of malfeasance in office and intimidation tied to alleged threats she made in letters sent to New Orleans officials in May.

She was accused of warning the officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno (D) and District Attorney Jason Williams, that their jobs were at risk if they opposed a new law combining the city’s criminal and district clerks of court.

The law, which was pushed by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R), eliminated a position at the Orleans Parish Criminal District Clerk of Court, which would have been held by newly-elected Calvin Duncan (D).

A warrant was issued for Murrill’s arrest Thursday, and her bond was set at $400,000.

The state Supreme Court halted the criminal proceedings against Murrill after considering a number of “compelling” arguments, including potential conflicts of interest involving special prosecutor Laurie White, who has previously represented Duncan.

The court also raised concerns about how the grand jury proceedings were handled, citing reports that journalists were “handcuffed and removed” from proceedings that state law requires to occur “in open court.”

“While the record before this Court is undeveloped, there is considerable support for the view that the Attorney General is likely to succeed on the merits of a motion to quash this indictment on either a legal basis or due to apparent procedural irregularities,” the state Supreme Court said in its ruling.

“The Attorney General makes a compelling argument concerning the disturbing defects in the grand jury proceedings and in the trial court’s handlings of those proceedings.”

The court continued: “This indictment appears to turn the law on its head and flows from what appear to be extraordinary procedural defects and improprieties.”

Murrill praised the ruling, noting her gratitude to the state Supreme Court for swiftly issuing the stay while calling the criminal proceedings a “political witch hunt.”

“I hope this political witch hunt is not a harbinger of things to come, but I fear that it is,” she said in a statement.

“Neither the grand jury investigation law nor the public intimidation law was intended to be used as a political weapon by a rogue, biased, vindictive special prosecutor, judge, and grand jury. I hope the legislature in the future will ensure this cannot happen again.”

Murrill said she will file the necessary motions seeking a dismissal of the case against her and expressed her gratitude to those who supported her.

One of her supporters was Landry, who publicly condemned the indictments and ordered the state police to investigate any alleged misconduct of the grand jury as well as the prosecutors.

The governor also said he would promptly pardon Murrill if she were ever convicted of the charges.

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