Louisiana Supreme Court sides with Chelsey Richard Napoleon
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Chelsey Richard Napoleon, center, before City Council last month. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios
Baton Rouge won another round in its power struggle with New Orleans on Monday when the Louisiana Supreme Court settled a dispute over the Orleans Parish Clerk of Court's office.
Why it matters: The ruling ends a legal and political fight that drew in the attorney general, mayor and City Council.
The big picture: Chelsey Richard Napoleon will serve the full term of the Orleans Parish Clerk of Court, the justices ruled in a 4-3 decision.
- It's a blow to Calvin Duncan, who was petitioning to keep his elected position as Orleans criminal district court clerk. The job was eliminated when lawmakers recently consolidated clerk roles.
- It's also a loss for Mayor Helena Moreno and New Orleans City Council members, who were advocating for two separate positions.
- They crossed paths with Attorney General Liz Murrill last month when five members voted to name a temporary clerk and hold a special election.
The friction point: Murrill responded by saying she could use the "Usurper Act" to remove Moreno, city District Attorney Jason Williams, the five council members and the interim clerk.
- In her letters, Murrill said Gov. Jeff Landry would appoint their replacements.
- The threats ratcheted up the already growing tensions between Republican-led Baton Rouge and the Democratic stronghold in New Orleans.
- Moreno and the council members responded with videos. "I won't back down," Moreno said.
Zoom in: The ACLU of Louisiana, which represents Duncan, decried the ruling, saying he is not the first Black Louisianan "this administration has moved to push out of power."
- The ACLU's statement listed what the group sees as a pattern to minimize Black voting power through the redrawn congressional map and other legal changes.
- "Today, the Louisiana Supreme Court blessed a legislative coup," the statement says.
What they are saying: City Council President JP Morrell in a statement says he's "disappointed" with the outcome and supports the city attorney's efforts seeking a rehearing.
- Moreno in a separate statement says she will "respect the court's decision."
- Murrill says the Supreme Court "got this right."
Behind the scenes: Sen. Jay Morris, who proposed the newly approved congressional map, which reduced Black representation, also proposed the court overhaul, which critics say targets Democrats.
What's next: The ACLU says it is representing Duncan in federal court.