The Louisiana Supreme Court granted a stay on state Attorney General Liz Murrill's indictment, less than 24 hours after a grand jury approved malfeasance and intimidation charges. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 3 (UPI) -- The Louisiana Supreme Court granted a stay on state Attorney General Liz Murrill's indictment, less than 24 hours after a grand jury approved charges.
The New Orleans grand jury charged Murrill, a Republican, with 16 felony counts of malfeasance in office and public intimidation related to alleged threats contained in a letter she sent to Orleans Parish leaders in May.
The letter allegedly threatened recipients, including Democratic Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams, that they could lose their positions if they opposed a new law to combine New Orleans' criminal and district clerks of court. The eliminates the position of newly-elected Clerk of Court Calvin Duncan, a Democrat.
The Louisiana Supreme Court halted the criminal proceedings Friday morning, citing potential conflicts of interest tied to special prosecutor Laurie White's past actions representing Duncan.
