A judge in Shreveport, Louisiana, has ordered Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill to pay more than $240,000 in penalties after throwing out a lawsuit against Caddo Parish officials. Special Judge John C. Davidson ruled in favor of the Caddo Parish Commission and seven Democratic commissioners, calling Murrill’s lawsuit groundless and poorly investigated.
Background of the Lawsuit
The state lawsuit accused local officials of violating Louisiana open meetings laws during a June 2025 visit by US Sen. Bernie Sanders, where commissioners presented a proclamation. However, Judge Davidson said the attorney general failed to meet basic legal standards and added that the most troubling part of the case was that it was filed for improper political reasons.
Lawyers for the Caddo Parish officials argued that the lawsuit was a waste of public funds, and now Louisiana taxpayers will have to cover the cost of the financial penalties. The lawsuit named Caddo Parish Commissioners Stormy Gage-Watts, Victor Thomas, Roy Burrell, Ron Cothran, Kenneth Epperson, Sr., Gregory Young, and Steffon Jones.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
