Michael Carroll News
Governor, insurance commissioner divided on key insurance reform measure
A rift between Gov. Jeff Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple over policies to lower insurance rates in Louisiana widened Wednesday as the two elected leaders gave dueling testimony about an insurance bill before lawmakers.
Former U.S. Attorney General Barr urges Murrill to push back against coastal erosion lawsuits
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has rebuffed a request by former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr to marginalize the legal theory of Louisiana parishes in their coastal erosion lawsuits and to appeal a recent $745 million judgment against Chevron.
Louisiana's legal system ranked among worst in nation in new report on social mobility
Louisiana ranks dead last in people’s ability to get ahead and achieve their version of the American dream, a new report concludes, and a big part of the reason is a low-quality legal system embedded with corruption.
Chevron hit with $744 million jury verdict in coastal erosion lawsuit
A Plaquemines Parish jury’s decision on Friday to hold Chevron USA liable for $744 million in damages for its role in the erosion of Louisiana coastal lands will undermine the state’s energy industry and overall economic growth, critics say.
Louisiana Supreme Court strikes down 2021 law legalizing historical horse racing machines
A 2021 state law legalizing historical horse racing machines is unconstitutional, the Louisiana Supreme Court decided last month in a ruling that critics said will disrupt a key source of revenue for the horse racing industry.
Louisiana voters turn down all 4 ballot measures in defeat for Gov. Landry, fiscal reforms
By nearly 2-to-1 margins, Louisiana voters on Saturday rejected four proposed constitutional amendments, including a fiscal-reform measure championed by Gov. Jeff Landry, apparently wary of expanding the state Legislature’s powers.
University student held at Louisiana facility in court battle to fight deportation
A Columbia University student who was picked up by plainclothes agents, called a threat to U.S. foreign policy and targeted with deportation remains in federal custody in Louisiana, despite a federal judge’s order that his case be transferred to New Jersey.
U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in challenge to Louisiana congressional map
The state Attorney General’s Office and other parties involved in litigation over Louisiana’s congressional map faced off this week in arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the map represents an unconstitutional “racial gerrymander.”
Louisiana's age-verification law targeting social media companies faces federal court challenge
A tech company association is challenging a 2023 Louisiana law that requires social media companies to verify the ages of users so that minors can’t create accounts on such platforms unless their parents provide permission.
State Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit challenging ballot measure on tax, fiscal reforms
The Louisiana Supreme Court this week dismissed a lawsuit that challenged Amendment 2 on the March 29 ballot, concluding that it neither contained misleading language nor strayed from the requirement that such measures cover a single policy change.
Fifth Circuit overturns injunction blocking execution of Jessie Hoffman
A federal appeals court has overturned an injunction that put Tuesday’s scheduled execution of Jessie Hoffman on hold, potentially clearing the way for the inmate to die at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola by nitrogen gassing.
Amendment 1 on state ballot would expand attorney discipline powers, use of specialty courts
Louisiana voters this month will determine the fate of a ballot measure that would give state lawmakers more flexibility to create specialty courts dealing with issues such as complex business issues –- something critics say would favor special interests.
Federal judge blocks execution of Jessie Hoffman, but Louisiana's attorney general files emergency appeal
Louisiana’s attorney general has urged the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a federal judge’s decision to block the execution of inmate Jessie Hoffman, citing concerns that the state’s planned use of nitrogen gas may amount to cruel and unusual punishment.
U.S. Justice Department dismisses 'Cancer Alley' lawsuit against Louisiana chemical plant
A federal lawsuit accusing a synthetic rubber plant in LaPlace of exposing neighbors to unacceptably high cancer risks from the facility’s emissions has been dismissed in a bid by the Trump administration to root out “environmental justice” initiatives.
Federal judge suggests there may be some grounds for delaying Louisiana inmate's execution
A federal judge has partially rejected a motion by the Louisiana attorney general to dismiss death row inmate Jessie Hoffman's lawsuit, which challengers the state’s planned use of nitrogen gas to execute Hoffman for raping and murdering a woman in 1996.
Louisiana charter school: State education agency's takeover of school's governing board 'unlawful'
A Baton Rouge-area charter school is suing the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) for removing the school’s Board of Directors in February, calling the action illegal and unconstitutional.
Federal lawsuit challenges Louisiana's new execution protocols using nitrogen gas
A death row prisoner scheduled to be executed next month has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Louisiana's plans for capital punishment using nitrogen hypoxia, calling the execution method cruel and unusual and shrouded in secrecy.
Appeals court reverses order to reinstate LSU law professor amid legal battle over academic freedom
A Louisiana State University law professor who was suspended after making some expletive-laden political comments in class suffered a setback last week when an appeals court reversed a lower court order to reinstate him.
Louisiana attorney general: Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office's 'sanctuary' policies must end
An Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office consent decree that limits cooperation with federal requests to detain inmates suspected of immigration violations should be dissolved, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office said in a federal court motion.
Disability rights group seeks to drop lawsuit challenging Louisiana's absentee voter restrictions
A Louisiana advocacy group for the disabled has asked a federal court to drop its voting-rights lawsuit after Disability Rights Louisiana failed to find any instance of officials rejecting a disabled voter’s ballot in November or December of last year.