An Orleans Parish grand jury indicted Liz Murrill on 16 felony counts tied to letters she sent to New Orleans officials in May. Orleans Criminal Court Judge Laurie White said the indictment occurred, and a $400,000 bond was set.
The counts include eight charges of public intimidation and eight charges of malfeasance in office. Murrill said she would immediately file an emergency supervisory writ with the Louisiana Supreme Court.
May letters to New Orleans officials
Sources told 8 Tuesday evening that the grand jury began investigating letters Murrill sent to Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams and five city councilmembers in May. Moreno posted a response on social media after receiving the letter, and she later said the matter was for the courts.
The letters came during a dispute over the state legislature's move to eliminate New Orleans' criminal clerk of court position and consolidate the office with the civil clerk. The City Council voted to appoint Calvin Johnson as interim clerk and called for a special election.
Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams supported the City Council's actions at the time. The Louisiana Supreme Court later struck down the council's resolutions, blocked the special election and ordered Chelsey Richard Napoleon to serve as the consolidated clerk as required by the new law.
Liz Murrill's response
Murrill said in a written statement that the action and indictments were retaliatory, meritless and unconstitutional. She also said, after taking on violent crime and entrenched corruption in New Orleans, it was no surprise the status quo was looking for ways to stop her.
Moreno responded that Louisiana criminal law prohibits threats or intimidation against public officials to influence their policies or decisions. After the indictment, she said the development was a matter for the courts.
The indictment leaves the dispute in the hands of the courts again, with Murrill already signaling that she will seek emergency review from the Louisiana Supreme Court. What the grand jury believed the letters crossed into remains the unanswered part of the case.
