A special prosecutor dropped felony criminal charges against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on Wednesday, concluding a case that had centered on accusations she threatened the jobs of New Orleans officials. The indictment, handed down on July 2, contained 16 counts alleging intimidation and malfeasance.
The Louisiana Supreme Court halted the case shortly after the indictment, ruling that the local court and special prosecutor failed to follow proper procedures. Special prosecutor Laurie White issued the dismissal a day after New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams, Mayor Helena Moreno, and five City Council members submitted a letter requesting the charges be dropped. Court records indicated White referenced these letters in her decision to dismiss each count before ordering the case closed.
The dispute arose from Republican-backed legislation that abolished a court clerk position previously won by Calvin Duncan, an exoneree who spent nearly three decades in prison. The law consolidated that office with another clerk’s role, which supporters argued would improve judicial efficiency. New Orleans officials, who control the heavily Democratic city, opposed the change and scheduled a special election allowing Duncan to compete for the newly combined position. Murrill responded with letters warning local officials they risked losing their positions for violating state laws regarding unauthorized office holders.
Murrill, the state’s first female attorney general and a Republican, stated in a social media post that the case should never have been initiated, saying there was no crime. She indicated she would continue investigating what she characterized as irresponsible actions that contributed to what she termed an abuse of the criminal justice system. Republican Governor Jeff Landry had stated he would grant a swift pardon and criticized the proceedings as an “Orleans Kangaroo court.” White did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding her decision.
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