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Liz Murrill

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Liz Murrill
Murrill in 2024
46th Attorney General of Louisiana
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2024
GovernorJeff Landry
Preceded byJeff Landry
Personal details
BornElizabeth Baker
1963 (age 62–63)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Children4
Education
Signature
WebsiteCampaign website

Elizabeth Murrill (née Baker; born 1963)[1] is an American politician and lawyer. A member of the Republican Party, she is serving as the 46th attorney general of Louisiana since January 2024. Prior to this, she served as solicitor general of Louisiana from 2015 to 2024.[2]

Early life and career

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Murrill grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana.[1] Her parents are Dr. Larry Eugene Baker, who served as the Chief of Staff at Lafayette General Hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Helen Vaughan Burdin Simpson, who was a professor of History and Humanities and the Head of the Department of History and Geography at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.[3][4] Murrill attended Cathedral-Carmel School, as well as Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Louisiana.

She became a pledge of Delta Delta Delta sorority and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Louisiana State University in 1985, after which she worked at a newspaper in Florida.[3] Murrill later attended the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where she served as the editor-in-chief of the Louisiana Law Review and graduated in 1991.[citation needed]

Murrill served as a United States Supreme Court Fellow from 2007 to 2008 and earned a Master of Laws degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2010. She clerked for U.S. District Judge Frank J. Polozola and Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Melvin Shortress.[5] She became solicitor general of Louisiana in 2015.[2]

As solicitor general Murrill argued:[6]

Attorney General of Louisiana (2024–present)

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In 2023, Jeff Landry, the attorney general of Louisiana, opted to run for governor of Louisiana instead of running for reelection. Murrill announced her candidacy to succeed him as attorney general in the 2023 election.[7] Murrill finished in first place in the all-candidate primary election and advanced to a runoff election.[8] In the runoff election on November 18, Murrill defeated Lindsey Cheek with 67% of the vote. She was the first woman to serve as attorney general in Louisiana.[9]

Abortion

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"At the request of Attorney General Liz Murrill" Governor Jeff Landry signed an extradition warrant for a New York Doctor accusing her of violating Louisiana's near-total abortion ban.[10][11]

Murrill joined 14 other AG's "urging Congress to consider taking action preempting abortion shield laws".[12][13]

Capital punishment

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On September 3, 2025, Murrill announced that she would request the United States Supreme Court overturn Roper v. Simmons, a ruling which prohibited the death penalty for juvenile offenders, and reinstate the death sentence of a juvenile offender whose death sentence was previously vacated in the aftermath of Roper.[14]

Citizenship and ICE

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Murrill defended Executive Order 14160.[15]

Murrill released a statement that "I will pursue all legal remedies against those who fail to uphold our laws and try to impede ICE agents".[16]

Elections

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Murrill joined a letter urging Congressional Leaders to support and pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.[17] Previously, Murrill joined an amicus brief in support of the RNC in Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota.[18]

Environment

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Murrill's Office filed an amicus brief in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County.[19][20]

Israel

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Murrill called to end taxpayer funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).[21] Murrill also sent a letter to Michigan AG Dana Nessel "encouraging her to stand strong amid all the outside groups and political actors criticizing her for charging individuals involved in the dangerous anti-Israel protests at the University of Michigan".[22]

LGBTQ+ rights

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Murrill joined an amicus brief in United States v. Skrmetti.[23][24]

Religion

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When House Bill 71, a law directing schools to display the Ten Commandments, was blocked by a district judge, Murrill said she plans to appeal the decision.[25]

Roblox child protection

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On August 14, 2025, Murrill sued the Roblox Corporation and filed a child protection lawsuit against them in the aftermath of the Schlep ban controversy.[26]

Trump

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On March 16, 2024, Murrill, along with 21 other state attorneys general, urged the U.S. Supreme Court to carefully consider Donald Trump's arguments as it weighs whether he is immune from prosecution for the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[27]

2026 indictment

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On July 2, 2026, an Orleans Parish grand jury indicted Murrill on 16 felony counts, consisting of eight counts of public intimidation and eight counts of malfeasance in office.[28] The charges arose from letters she sent in May 2026 to New Orleans officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams, several city council members and retired judge Calvin Johnson, concerning a dispute over the Orleans Parish clerk of court position after state legislation abolished the separate criminal court clerk's office.[28][29] Bond was set at $400,000, or $25,000 for each count.[28]

Murrill denied wrongdoing and said the indictment was retaliatory and unconstitutional.[29] Governor Jeff Landry criticized the indictment and said he would pardon Murrill "as fast as the law allows".[28]

On July 3, 2026, the Louisiana Supreme Court stayed the proceedings, saying Murrill had made a "compelling argument" about alleged defects in the grand jury proceedings and the trial court's handling of the case.[30] The court also cited possible conflicts involving special prosecutor Laurie White, including that White had previously represented Calvin Duncan and was being defended by Murrill's office in a separate lawsuit.[30] In a later order the same day, the court recalled Murrill's arrest warrant and ordered it removed from law enforcement databases while the stay remained in effect.[31]

Murrill's arraignment was postponed after the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court judges recused themselves from the case.[32] On July 9, 2026, the Louisiana Supreme Court appointed retired judge Robert A. Chaisson to sit ad hoc in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for the case.[33]

Personal life

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Murrill and her husband have been married for over 30 years. They have four sons.[34]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Attorney General Voter Guide: Read about candidates Lindsey Cheek, Liz Murrill". NOLA.com. November 6, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Boucher, Mackenzie (2023-10-12). "Eighth-generation Louisianan, Liz Baker Murrill, makes her bid for Attorney General". The Times. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  3. 1 2 "King Gabriel, Queen Evangeline Set to Rule Over Mardi Gas Celebration". The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana). 1982-02-22. pp. 1, 5. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  4. ↑ "Baker, Vaughan (1937- ). Papers, 1616-2018, n.d." archives.louisiana.edu. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  5. ↑ "Hon. Elizabeth Murrill". The Federalist Society. 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  6. ↑ "Elizabeth Murrill - Cases argued". oyez.org.
  7. ↑ Bridges, Tyler (January 27, 2023). "Liz Murrill, top aide to AG Jeff Landry, will run for attorney general". NOLA.com.
  8. ↑ Finn, James (October 14, 2023). "Republican and Democrat to compete in runoff for Louisiana attorney general". NOLA.com.
  9. ↑ "Liz Murrill becomes Louisiana's first woman attorney general". lailluminator.com. November 19, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Governor Jeff Landry Signs Extradition Warrant for New York Doctor | Office of Governor Jeff Landry". gov.louisiana.gov (Press release). February 13, 2025. Archived from the original on February 19, 2025.
  11. ↑ Belluck, Pam; Oreskes, Benjamin; Cochrane, Emily (13 February 2025). "Abortion Provider Won't Be Extradited to Louisiana, N.Y. Governor Says". The New York Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ↑ "Attorney General Murrill sends letter to Congress about abortion pills being shipped to states where abortion is illegal". ag.state.la.us (Press release).
  13. ↑ Hutchinson, Piper (July 31, 2025). "Liz Murrill, Republican AGs ask Congress to counter abortion pill shield laws • Louisiana Illuminator". Louisiana Illuminator.
  14. ↑ https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/ag-murrill-seeks-death-sentence-for-juvenile-killer/article_69c70ebd-e6b4-4a42-8ea4-3f724bc72fdf.html#tncms-source=the-latest
  15. ↑ "AG Liz Murrill defends President Trump's Executive Order challenging Birthright Citizenship for children of illegal aliens". ag.state.la.us (Press release). Archived from the original on 14 February 2025.
  16. ↑ "Statement from Attorney General Liz Murrill on immigration enforcement operations". ag.state.la.us (Press release). Archived from the original on February 4, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Attorney General Liz Murrill calls on Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act". ag.state.la.us (Press release). Archived from the original on 20 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Attorney General Liz Murrill Joins Brief Asking SCOTUS to Allow Arizona to Enforce Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration" (Press release). Archived from the original on August 26, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Louisiana Files SCOTUS Brief Protecting Energy Industry with 23 supporting states". ag.state.la.us (Press release).
  20. ↑ "BRIEF FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND 23 OTHER STATES AS AMICI CURIAE SUPPORTING PETITIONERS" (PDF). supremecourt.gov.
  21. ↑ "Attorney General Murrill Urges Congress to Defund Terrorist-tied U.N. Agency". ag.state.la.us (Press release). Archived from the original on 11 June 2024.
  22. ↑ "Letter to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel from AG Liz Murrill and fellow attorneys general". ag.state.la.us (Press release). Archived from the original on November 4, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Attorney General Murrill Joins 22-State Coalition Urging U.S. Supreme Court to Uphold States' Role in Protecting Children". ag.state.la.us (Press release). Archived from the original on 4 November 2024.
  24. ↑ "BRIEF OF KENTUCKY, ARKANSAS, INDIANA, ALASKA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, IDAHO, IOWA, KANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, MON- TANA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DA- KOTA, UTAH, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WYOMING AS AMICI CURIAE SUPPORTING RESPONDENTS" (PDF). supremecourt.gov.
  25. ↑ "Federal judge blocks Louisiana's Ten Commandments law in public schools". NBC News. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  26. ↑ "BREAKING: Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill files Child Protection lawsuit against popular game Roblox". Aglizmurrill.com. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  27. ↑ Staff report, The Advocate; David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times (March 16, 2024). "Liz Murrill, other Republican attorneys general, support Donald Trump's bid for legal immunity". The Advocate.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Bridges, Mel (July 2, 2026). "Louisiana Supreme Court puts stay on AG Liz Murrill's indictment, arrest warrant". WWNO. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  29. 1 2 Mulvihill, Geoff (July 3, 2026). "Louisiana's top court halts the criminal case against the state attorney general". Associated Press. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  30. 1 2 State of Louisiana v. Elizabeth Baker Murrill (Louisiana Supreme Court July 3, 2026), Text.
  31. ↑ State of Louisiana v. Elizabeth Baker Murrill (Louisiana Supreme Court July 3, 2026), Text.
  32. ↑ "Retired Democratic judge appointed to oversee criminal case against AG Liz Murrill, reports say". WBRZ. July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  33. ↑ Killett, Gabby (July 9, 2026). "Supreme Court appoints retired judge in Liz Murrill case". WVUE-DT. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  34. ↑ Noakes, Alena (July 31, 2023). "Meet the candidate: Liz Murrill to maintain federally-focused casework, if elected next La. AG". KALB.
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