Louisiana AG Murrill threatened to remove New Orleans mayor, DA, and 5 council members over court clerk fight

On May 13, 2026, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill sent letters to New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams, and five of the seven members of the New Orleans City Council, warning that they were at risk of forfeiting their elected offices. The letters followed a council vote that week to trigger an election for a newly merged clerk's office and to appoint retired Judge Calvin Johnson as interim clerk of criminal court. Murrill wrote that the council's resolutions triggered "serious consequences under Louisiana's usurper statutes, including the possible forfeiture of your own office," asserted that Governor Jeff Landry had authority to remove the officials, and indicated the interim clerk could be jailed if he assumed the post.

The dispute arose from Act 15, a new state law that abolished the separately elected clerk of Criminal District Court and consolidated the office under the civil clerk, blocking Calvin Duncan — who had won the November election for criminal court clerk — from taking office. New Orleans leaders characterized the consolidation and a companion law eliminating three criminal court judgeships as a political attack and moved to name an interim clerk and call a special election in response. Moreno said she would not be "intimidated" out of the legal fight over control of the parish clerk's office.

Updates

2026-07-02 — New Orleans grand jury indicted Murrill on 16 counts over the letters [3, 4]

An Orleans Parish grand jury returned a 16-count indictment against Murrill — eight counts each of intimidation and malfeasance in office — in connection with the removal-threat letters. Special prosecutor Laurie White announced the charges, and Judge Leon Roche issued an arrest warrant with bond set at $400,000. Governor Landry stated on social media that he would pardon Murrill "as fast as the law allows," though Louisiana law permits a pardon only on the recommendation of the pardon and parole board following a conviction. Murrill called the charges retaliatory and said she would seek emergency review from the Louisiana Supreme Court.

2026-07-03 — Louisiana Supreme Court stayed the indictment; Murrill sought warrant recall [5, 6]

Early on July 3, 2026, hours after the 16-count indictment and the $400,000 arrest warrant, the Louisiana Supreme Court granted Murrill an emergency stay of the indictment, putting the case on hold. By Friday evening, after special prosecutor Laurie White refused to recall the outstanding arrest warrant and bond, Murrill filed a second emergency request asking the high court to order the warrant recalled and removed from law-enforcement databases.

2026-07-14 — Murrill sought subpoenas of DA and special prosecutor to dismiss indictment [7, 8]

On July 14, 2026, Murrill's attorneys filed two motions asking an Orleans Parish court to subpoena records from District Attorney Jason Williams and special prosecutor Laurie White as part of her effort to have the 16-count indictment thrown out before arraignment. The subpoenas seek internal communications among White, the district attorney's office, Judge Leon Roche, the mayor's office, other city officials, and media organizations, aimed at showing how the grand jury was convened and how news of the investigation leaked to the press before it was made public. The motions state the records are "necessary and material" to Murrill's defense. Retired appeals court Judge Robert Chaisson, appointed to oversee the case after the Orleans Parish criminal judges recused, had not yet signed the subpoenas as of late Monday. Murrill's office declined to comment and referred questions to her attorney.

2026-07-22 — Special prosecutor dismissed all 16 charges against Murrill at victims' request [9, 10]

Special Prosecutor Laurie White, a retired judge, dismissed all 16 felony counts against Murrill — eight malfeasance-in-office and eight public-intimidation charges — after the eight alleged victims, including New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno and five City Council members, wrote asking her to end the case; Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said he would not oppose dismissal.