Article archive / January 2017
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 1. Source pages: 4.
Gov Edwards Loses Suit Against the AG
On December 14 Judge Todd Hernandez dismissed Governor Edwards executive order about anti-discrimination in the workplace. Hernandez ruled that the executive order was unconstitutional, and was an extension of executive power that was not provided for by the constitution.
Earlier this year, Edwards issued an Executive Order requiring LGBT anti- discrimination language in state contracts. The Attorney General, Jeff Landry, had refused to allow the state to hire outside attorneys if the contracts include anti- discrimination language.
According to a report in Associated Press by Melinda Deslatte, Landry argued that the Executive Order that Edwards issued creates a new protected class and is not within the Governor’s authority.
The report said that Edwards and Landry met but couldn’t agree. "He basically told me if I wanted him to approve those contracts that I would have to sue him. So I'm going to oblige him on that," Gov. Edwards said.
After the ruling by Hernandez, the Attorney General said, “I applaud Judge Hernandez for basing his ruling on the law, not politics,” as reported by WTOL.
"We are disappointed in the court's ruling today. However, we fully intend to appeal this issue, Gov. Edwards said.
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