Louisiana's Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill was indicted Thursday by a grand jury in New Orleans on criminal charges accusing her of trying to intimidate local officials who opposed a state law that overhauled the city's court system.

The indictment stems from letters Murrill sent to eight New Orleans officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams, warning them they could face removal from their jobs for supporting Calvin Duncan, an elected official whose position was eliminated by the legislation just days before he was set to take office.

What the Right Is Saying

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry slammed the indictment on social media, calling the criminal justice system "a circus" in New Orleans and promising to pardon Murrill "as fast as the law allows." In a post on X, he wrote: "The criminal justice system is a circus at its finest in Orleans and we will not have any of that!" He referred to the local system as a "Kangaroo court."

The Republican Attorneys General Association called the indictment "as outrageous as it is dangerous," saying Murrill was simply "issuing a legal opinion and warning public officials about the law" as part of her official duties.

Backers of the legislation argued it promotes government efficiency and aims to improve what they described as a dysfunctional court system in Orleans Parish. They noted that the offices of criminal and civil clerks of courts are combined in other parishes across Louisiana. Murrill has pointed to Duncan's 2011 plea deal, when he accepted a reduced sentence rather than contest his conviction, in objecting to his characterization of himself as exonerated.

What the Left Is Saying

Local Democratic officials defended their actions as protecting the will of voters. Mayor Helena Moreno, a Democrat, said in a statement that the indictment is "a matter for the courts" and that her focus remains on fulfilling the responsibilities she was elected to carry out. District Attorney Jason Williams was among those who received Murrill's warning letters.

Assistant Attorney General Laurie White, who is prosecuting the case, told reporters after the indictment: "We're very interested in elected officials in New Orleans not being intimidated or threatened by letter or any other way." White said she expected the case will be "very simple" and "very open and shut."

Duncan's supporters viewed the law as a move by a majority white conservative Legislature to thwart the will of voters in New Orleans, a predominantly Black Democratic city within a red state. The City Council had sought to oust the civil court clerk and set a special election for November to allow Duncan to compete for the combined position.

What the Numbers Show

Bond for Murrill was set at $400,000 on Thursday, according to court records. The position elimination law was passed just days before Duncan was scheduled to take office in May. Duncan won 68% of the vote when elected to the Orleans Parish criminal court clerk position.

Duncan spent more than 28 years in prison in connection with a fatal shooting during a robbery in 1981. In 2011, prosecutors offered to reduce his sentence to time already served if he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery; Duncan accepted the deal and was freed but continued fighting to clear his name. In 2021, a judge agreed that Duncan had been unjustly convicted and vacated his sentence altogether.

The Bottom Line

The indictment marks an unusual escalation in the political battle over Louisiana's court system changes. Murrill is expected to face arraignment on charges related to intimidation of public officials. Governor Landry has pledged to issue a pardon if she is convicted, setting up what could become a high-profile test of executive clemency power.

The case will likely focus on whether Murrill's letters constituted legitimate legal guidance or unlawful threats against local officials exercising their duties. White told reporters: "Let's get her convicted, and then he can pardon her." Duncan has said he believes state officials were retaliating against him for his advocacy work expanding incarcerated people's access to the court system.