New Orleans: Louisiana Supreme Court Puts Criminal Probe Ahead of Murrill's Civil Records Fight
The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that the criminal investigation into the grand jury proceedings behind Attorney General Liz Murrill's indictment takes priority. The court denied three writs tied to the civil case Murrill is pursuing against New Orleans leaders, holding that the civil case should not impede the active criminal investigation.
The court also held that only Special Prosecutor Collin Sims can invoke the criminal investigation exemption under the Public Records Act; Laurie White lost that ability because she is no longer the special prosecutor. Sims has said his investigation into the grand jury proceedings and Murrill's indictment is in its beginning stages. Murrill's civil attorneys have been seeking communications and other records tied to the proceedings, and subpoenas to testify were issued to Mayor Helena Moreno, several council members and Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams.
A New Orleans grand jury had indicted Murrill on 16 counts of public intimidation and malfeasance in office over letters she sent to city officials after the legislature passed a law involving the Orleans Parish court system. The state Supreme Court stayed the prosecution, and White dismissed all counts on July 22. Murrill denied wrongdoing and said the irresponsible and illegal actions that led to the case must never happen again.
In the records fight, a judge approved subpoenas directing White and Williams to produce documents tied to the indictment, and White later moved to quash hers. Every judge on the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court bench has recused themselves, and the state Supreme Court appointed a retired judge to oversee the proceedings.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 2.5，作者 Infrogmation（New Orleans 法院大楼实景） | Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5, by Infrogmation (courthouse building, New Orleans)
