Louisiana Supreme Court issues stay in Attorney General Liz Murrill case

The Louisiana Supreme Court on Friday issued a stay halting criminal proceedings against state Attorney General Liz Murrill. The order came one day after a New Orleans grand jury indicted her on 16 counts of malfeasance in office and intimidation.

The indictment stems from letters Murrill sent in May to New Orleans officials including Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams. In those letters she warned that their jobs could be at risk if they opposed a new state law combining the city’s criminal and district clerks of court.

The law, backed by Gov. Jeff Landry, eliminated the elected Orleans Parish Criminal District Clerk position that Calvin Duncan had won.

A warrant for Murrill’s arrest was issued Thursday with bond set at $400,000. The stay suspends further action while the court reviews the case.

The Louisiana Supreme Court stated that the Attorney General is likely to succeed on a motion to quash the indictment on either a legal basis or due to apparent procedural irregularities.

Murrill called the proceedings a “political witch hunt” and said she would file motions seeking dismissal. “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,” Murrill said on July 3, 2026.

Gov. Jeff Landry condemned the indictment, ordered police to investigate the grand jury proceedings, and said he would pardon Murrill “as fast as the law allows” if she were convicted.