Louisiana’s first female attorney general, Republican Liz Murrill, was indicted on Thursday by a New Orleans grand jury. Murrill faces a 16-count indictment charging her with malfeasance and intimidation.
The charges stem from allegations that Murrill attempted to intimidate eight New Orleans officials who opposed a law enacted by Republican legislators to overhaul the city's local courts. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Murrill warned officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams, that they could face removal from their positions for fighting legislation that eliminated a court clerk role.
Less than 24 hours after the grand jury approved the charges, Louisiana’s highest court intervened. The Louisiana Supreme Court granted a stay of the proceedings in the criminal indictment, marking the latest development in a high-stakes political battle between Republican state leaders and the Democrats who govern New Orleans.