Summary
Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, Liz Murrill, was charged with criminal offenses for allegedly threatening local officials who opposed a new law changing the local court system. The law removed the job of a criminal court clerk who was elected after a wrongful conviction, and opponents said the law was meant to block voters’ choice.Key Facts
- Liz Murrill, Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, was indicted on criminal charges by a grand jury in New Orleans.
- Murrill warned eight New Orleans officials, including the mayor and district attorney, they could lose their jobs if they opposed a new court-related law.
- The law removed the Orleans parish criminal court clerk position after Calvin Duncan, a man wrongly convicted for many years, was elected to that post.
- Republican lawmakers passed the law shortly before Duncan was set to take office in May.
- Duncan’s supporters say the law is an effort by mostly white conservative legislators to overturn voters’ decisions in a mostly Black Democratic city.
- Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, also a Republican, called the local criminal justice system chaotic and promised to pardon Murrill on all charges as soon as possible.
- The Republican Attorneys General Association said Murrill was only giving a legal opinion and warning officials about the law in her job.
- Critics say Murrill’s actions aimed to pressure officials into accepting the new law.
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