Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Local Newscast
Hear the latest from the WRKF/WWNO Newsroom.

Judge Rules Against Governor In Case Against Attorney General

Governor John Bel Edwards took Attorney General Jeff Landry to court Monday, asking Judge Don Johnson to order the A.G. to do his job.

“The judge basically said that this procedural device, a writ of mandamus, is not available to the Governor in this case,” Matthew Block, the governor's executive counsel, said of the ruling against the governor’s case.

While the Attorney General's Office views this as a victory,  Block said the reason for the judge's decision essentially upholds the governor's premise – that the A.G.'s office is under the authority of the executive branch, and of the state's chief executive officer, which is the governor

“Because of the constitutional delegations of authority, Judge Johnson does not believe the Governor has the writ of mandamus available in this case,” Block explained, adding mandamus works from the bottom up, not the top down.

“The writ of mandamus is available to citizens. It's available to make sure people in government do their job.”

In his ruling, Judge Johnson did not address the A.G.'s refusal to approve contracts that contain LGBT anti-discrimination language, which is in accordance with the governor's executive order. In fact, Block said, the A.G.'s office tried to avoid discussing that issue at all.

“They raised all sorts of issues with lawyers and with conflicting cases and that's all brand new stuff. What the Attorney General has said is – in writing – 'we don't like this particular language in a contract.' That's what this case is all about.”

Representatives of the Attorney General's office declined comment following the decision, but Block says this isn't the end of seeking a remedy in the conflict between the Governor and the Attorney General.

“We did this to be able to get into court quickly, and so there are some other options we can take. Problem is, it takes time.”