murrill, liz solic genl Louis
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now AG? raga 2026
PEPPERDINE
MERRI OK
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[### Louisiana AG hopeful takes aim at Biden energy agenda
E&E News by POLITICO
https://www.eenews.net › Articles](https://www.eenews.net/articles/louisiana-ag-hopeful-takes-aim-at-biden-energy-agenda/)
May 22, 2023 — Elizabeth Murrill, the Bayou State's Republican solicitor general, is vying to become the next heavyweight foe of the president's climate plans.Read more
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AI Overview
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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill earned her Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Pepperdine University Law School. In her political role, she has been a vocal opponent of aggressive federal climate mandates and policies targeting the traditional fossil fuel energy sector.
E&E News by POLITICO +2
Liz Murrill's Climate Stance
- Legal Philosophy: Murrill is a champion of the "major questions" doctrine, arguing federal courts should be less deferential to the regulatory power of the EPA.
E&E News by POLITICO
- Energy Advocacy: She actively challenges federal efforts to regulate greenhouse emissions from power plants and has committed to protecting the fossil fuel industry, often characterizing climate directives from Washington D.C. as federal overreach and state power grabs.
E&E News by POLITICO +1
Climate Action at Pepperdine University
While Murrill's office opposes climate regulations, the academic climate at Pepperdine itself features a dynamic and varied approach to global warming and environmentalism:
E&E News by POLITICO +1
- Neutrality: The university historically avoids taking a formal, institutional stance on climate change in order to encourage open debate and free thinking.
Pepperdine Graphic
- Activism & Research: Students and faculty actively engage with the topic. The campus hosts the annual Climate Calling Conference, exploring climate change, ecological degradation, and sustainability. Additionally, students consistently present biological and political science research concerning the local impacts of global warming.
Pepperdine University +3
- Advocacy Campaigns: Independent groups like the Pepperdine Climate Action Initiative have organized to mobilize the student body and push the administration toward stronger environmental commitments.
Pepperdine Digital Commons +1
AN 7 26
Ahead of the 250th birthday of the United States, a Louisiana judge tried to clear a courtroom when a grand jury returned an indictment of a political official. Now, the state supreme court has stepped in to save her.
A grand jury returned an indictment on Thursday of Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill, but less than 24 hours later, the conservative majority of the Louisiana Supreme Court stepped in to put the whole thing on hold. All four of the Republican justices voted in favor of Murrill and one Democratic one joined. The other Democrat and one Independent justice dissented.
Local WWL News reported that the court issued Murrill's requested stay of the indictment, claiming that she "makes a compelling argument concerning the disturbing defects in the grand jury proceedings and in the trial court’s handling of those proceedings.”
According to new allegations, Murrill used the chaos in the courtroom to claim that the special prosecutor failed to follow proper procedure in the indictment when people were removed from the courthouse.
On Thursday, journalists, a producer, and a First Amendment lawyer were not only locked out but also handcuffed by court police when they tried to report on the case.
James Finn, reporter for The Times-Picayune, wrote on X that "WWLTV producer Danny Montverde was placed in handcuffs by Orleans Sheriff’s Office court security officers after objecting to the closed-door nature of the proceeding."
He added, "I was told I’d face contempt of court charges and threatened with cuffs if I didn’t leave the courthouse hallway. When I left the building and came back, security wouldn’t let me back in. When I questioned on what grounds, I was again threatened with handcuffs."
Finn issued a follow-up report on the paper, stating that no one at the New Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office has commented on what happened.
The office "has made no comment about its deputies’ conduct yesterday, incl cuffing/detaining journalist @DCMonteverde and 1A lawyer Elana Beiser for refusing to leave a taxpayer-funded courthouse. OPSO has not responded to inquiries from," Finn wrote on X.
WWL TV reporter David Hammer commented on Thursday evening, "Code of Criminal Procedure Section 383 says grand jury 'indictments shall be returned into the district court in open court.” That did not happen in Judge Leon Roché’s court today and Danny was objecting on behalf of the public. @WWLTV ’s lawyer, Elana Beiser, was also detained.'"
Beiser later quipped, "Nothing like a brief detention while standing up for freedom of information to celebrate Independence Day weekend."
"The episode ended with combative, dueling press conferences on the courthouse steps. The special prosecutor assigned to the probe lamented that she had taken the case; defense lawyers for Attorney General Liz Murrill decried a system of 'kangaroo courts' in New Orleans," Finn wrote in his report.
Murrill claimed in her court filing that there were also conflicts of interest involving Special Prosecutor Laurie White. She is currently being represented by the AG's office in a sexual harassment lawsuit. She also served as an attorney for Calvin Duncan, a central person in the case. For those reasons, Murrill claimed that it wasn't fair.
The conservative majority of the Louisiana Supreme Court agreed that the case must be examined and that there are likely conflicts of interest. Everything must remain on hold until further investigation. They also agreed that Murrill is "likely to succeed in having the case dismissed and that she would suffer irreparable harm if it can move forward," said the*Associated Press*.
“This indictment appears to turn the law on its head and flows from what appear to be extraordinary procedural defects and improprieties,” the court said in the Friday filing signed by Republican Justice Jay McCallum.
“I hope this political witch hunt is not a harbinger of things to come,” she said in a statement Friday, “but I fear that it is.”
Echoing President Donald Trump, Murrill claimed the matter was a "witch hunt."
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Louisiana argues parts of Voting Rights Act are unconstitutional
an 1 15
NEW ORLEANS – Attorneys representing Louisiana in a lawsuit against the state legislative redistricting plans passed in 2022 are arguing that a key piece of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional and should not be applied to the state.
The case could produce a bellwether decision that impacts Black voting strength in several states where similar challenges have arisen.
Arguments were presented Tuesday to a three-judge panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case Nairne v. Landry,in which Black voters are challenging the most recent legislative redistricting maps as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.
Last February, U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick of the Middle District of Louisiana ruled that maps Louisiana lawmakers drew two years ago to update the boundaries of their own districts do not give Black voters a fair opportunity to elect their own representatives. Dick’s ruling came after the 2023 elections, when a new class of lawmakers were elected, yielding a Republican supermajority in both chambers.
While Dick’s ruling blocks legislative elections from being held in every district while the lawsuit plays out, plaintiffs in the case agreed to let special elections for two vacant Louisiana Senate seats go forward in February.
The state has appealed Dick’s decision. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits voting laws or procedures that purposefully discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a language minority group.
“Conditions that originally justified those measures no longer apply to Louisiana,” Deputy Solicitor General Morgan Brungard argued. “We ask the court to reverse and hold Section 2 unconstitutional as it applies to Louisiana.”
Brungard argued that Black voter turnout in Louisiana is sufficiently high enough that Section 2 is no longer necessary.
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The three 5th Circuit judges presiding are James Dennis, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, Catharina Haynes, an appointee of President George W. Bush, and Irma Ramirez, an appointee of President Barack Obama.
For over a decade, conservative attorneys and officials have sought to whittle down the Voting Rights Act. Nairneis one vehicle politicians have sought to use as a test case against Section 2.
Last year, Republican attorneys general from 14 states filed an amicus brief in the case arguing Section 2 is unconstitutional. That action followed a 2023 decision in the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis that only the federal government can seek an enforcement ruling under the Voting Rights Act, rather than individuals.
The federal government and voting rights advocates have pushed back on that stance.
Every case brought under Section 2 is likely to be used as a test case for those that seek to have that portion of the Voting Rights Act overturned, advocates have said.
The U.S. Department of Justice intervened in Nairnein response to the state’s arguments against Section 2 but remained neutral on the other aspects of the case.
Noah Bokat-Lindell, a DOJ civil rights attorney, argued states cannot get a carveout from a generally applicable statute. For example, they cannot become exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act because a state argues it doesn’t discriminate against disabled people, he said.
In a press conference after the hearing, Attorney General Liz Murrill argued that if Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was ruled unconstitutional, Black voters could still count on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“Those are legal arguments that we wanted to preserve so that they eventually might make it up to the United States Supreme Court,” Murrill said. “They’ve also been percolating in a number of other cases related to the scope and continuing application of Section 2 to states under current conditions.”
If Dick’s decision is upheld, legislators will have another opportunity to redraw the boundaries of their districts. Dick, an Obama federal court appointee, did not specify in her ruling the number of majority Black districts necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act.
Plaintiffs have said the state should add six in the Louisiana House and three in the Senate. Currently, 28 out of 105 House districts are majority Black, as are 11 of 39 Senate districts.
State Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, who is Black, said he intends to file a bill with a new redistricting plan in the upcoming legislative session, which begins April 14.
Also at issue in Nairneis whether Dick erred in blocking the entire redistricting plan. Attorneys for the state argue the plaintiffs only have standing to challenge the districts where they live.
It is not known when the 5th Circuit panel will rule on the state’s appeal.
Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.
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3 24 AG LNG
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Texas and 15 states sue Biden admin over climate agenda targeting gas projects | Fox News
fox no lnx
Texas and 15 states sue Biden admin over climate agenda targeting gas projects
'I will not stand by while Biden attacks Texas,' Attorney General Ken Paxton says
Thomas Catenacci By Thomas Catenacci Fox News
Published March 22, 2024
Comments
Biden's halting of liquified natural gas projects is 'utter nonsense': Marc Morano
Climatedepot.com Executive Director Marc Morano discusses the impact on American energy from the Biden administration's halt of liquified natural gas projects and reacts to Davos saying that drinking coffee causes climate change.
A coalition of 16 Republican states, led by Texas and Louisiana, filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, challenging its recent climate action pausing proposed energy projects.
The multistate coalition filed its complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, listing President Biden, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and the Department of Energy (DOE) among the defendants in the case. According to the complaint, the DOE's move earlier this year pausing major liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal projects violated long-standing federal energy laws.
"Biden’s unilateral decree disregards statutory mandates, flouts the legal process, upends the oil and gas industry, disrupts the Texas economy, and subverts our constitutional structure," said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
"The ban will drive billions of dollars in investment away from Texas, hinder our ability to maximize revenue for public schools, force Texas producers to flare excess natural gas instead of taking it to market, and annihilate critical jobs," he continued. "I will not stand by while Biden attacks Texas."
GOP LEADERS CONFRONT BIDEN’S NEW CLIMATE CZAR ON KEY SECURITY RISKS LURKING IN GREEN AGENDAPrice Futures Group senior analyst Phil Flynn and Copenhagen Consensus Center President Bjorn Lomborg on the concerns with bans on natural gas for costs and reliability.
Ken Paxton in front of Supreme Court
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 1, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
According to Paxton, the LNG export moratorium is unconstitutional, ignores the 1938 Natural Gas Act’s "presumption in favor of exports" and discards decades of DOE energy policy.
In arguing the alleged unconstitutionality of the policy, the states' complaint notes Article I of the Constitution vests Congress with "[a]ll legislative Powers," including the power "[t]o regulate Commerce with foreign Nations." Therefore, since blocking LNG exports can be considered a regulation of commerce, the DOE violated the Constitution, according to the lawsuit.
TIKTOK ACTIVIST SAYS HE ADVISED WHITE HOUSE ON BIDEN'S NEW NATURAL GAS MORATORIUM
"The LNG Export Ban implicates an issue of profound national importance. LNG exports account for billions of dollars to the economy and thousands of jobs," the complaint states. "They also raise serious questions of national security. And this is an issue that has been the subject of proposed legislation and public attention in and outside of Congress."
President Biden ordered pending natural gas export projects to be halted in a stunning move in January. (Getty Images)
The complaint accuses DOE of violating the Administrative Procedure Act which governs the procedures of administrative law. The states highlight that DOE failed to host any public comment period before finalizing its LNG policy without "good cause to forego the notice and comment requirement."
Additionally, the states argue the DOE failed to properly consider the Natural Gas Act and its provision that states the agency issue an export license before hearing from the public.
DOZENS OF FORMER TOP FEDERAL OFFICIALS CALL ON CONGRESS TO STRIKE DOWN BIDEN'S NATURAL GAS CRACKDOWN
"The Biden administration’s illegal attacks on American energy jeopardizes the livelihoods of thousands of hard-working Louisiana men and women, millions of dollars in tax revenue, and billions of dollars in infrastructure," said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
"LNG continues to have an enormous positive economic impact for our state — especially on our hard-hit coastal communities, which continue to recover from a recent series of devastating hurricanes. Jobs like these grow the economy, reduce crime, and help address the out-migration problem," she continued. "The people of Louisiana are proud to power this nation. I’m ready to fight for them."
An LNG tanker is pictured at the Elbehafen port in Brunsbuettel, Germany. American LNG has been critical in helping Germany and other European nations wean off Russian gas. (Bodo Marks/picture alliance via Getty Images)
In a surprise move in January, Biden ordered the DOE to pause pending permits for LNG export facilities while federal officials conduct a rigorous environmental review assessing the projects' carbon emissions, which could take more than a year to complete. The action was lauded by climate activists who have loudly called for such a move, which they said would help combat global warming.
However, the move was blasted by industry groups, former federal officials and bipartisan lawmakers, who noted energy exports are vital for aiding allies in Europe and Asia. In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago, U.S. LNG largely filled the void left by Russian natural gas as U.S. allies sought to wean off Russian exports and punish the nation's economy, a plan Biden endorsed at the time.
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Opponents also argued that LNG exports bolster domestic energy production and boost the U.S. economy. Fossil fuel industry groups recently cited research indicating that LNG exports could add as much as $73 billion to the U.S. economy by 2040, create 453,000 American jobs and increase U.S. purchasing power by $30 billion.
Thomas Catenacci is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
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fedsoc BS
in 2016, Attorney General Jeff Landry appointed Liz Murrill as the first Solicitor General for Louisiana. She has more than 25 years of experience working in diverse state and federal government legal environments and has experience handling complex litigation, state and federal appeals, and complex government transactions. Liz most recently served as the Louisiana Department of Justice's Director of Administration and, before that, Director of the Civil Division.
She previously served former Governor Bobby Jindal as Executive Counsel and was Executive Counsel to the Commissioner of Administration. Liz was counsel for the Office of the Governor in the BP Oil Spill litigation and has served as a member and counsel to several state boards and commissions. She was a United States Supreme Court Judicial Fellow in 2007-08 at the Federal Judicial Center and taught appellate advocacy and legal writing at the Louisiana State University Law Center for more than ten years. Liz earned her bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University, law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center where she was Editor-In-Chief of the Law Review, and Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University School of Law.
She clerked for U.S. District Judge Frank J. Polozola and Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Melvin Shortess. Liz has argued three cases at the United States Supreme Court (including June Medical v. Russo and Ramos v. Louisiana) and many others at the Louisiana Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the District of Columbia Circuit, and multiple state and federal courts. Additionally, she has filed briefs in courts across the country on a wide variety of constitutional issues.
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Elizabeth Murrill (née Baker; born 1963/1964)[1] is an American politician and lawyer. A Republican, she is the attorney general of Louisiana.
Early life and career
Murrill is from New Orleans. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Louisiana State University in 1985 and worked for a newspaper in Florida. She attended the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. She served as the editor-in-chief of the Louisiana Law Review and graduated in 1991. She served as a United States Supreme Court Fellow from 2007 to 2008 and earned a Master of Laws degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2010. She became solicitor general of Louisiana in 2015.[2]
In 2023, Jeff Landry, the attorney general of Louisiana, opted to run for governor of Louisiana instead of running for reelection. Murrill announced her candidacy to succeed him as attorney general in the 2023 election.[3] Murrill finished in first place in the all-candidate primary election and advanced to a runoff election.[4] In the runoff election on November 18, Murrill defeated Lindsey Cheek with 67% of the vote.[5]
On March 16, 2024, Murrill, along with 21 other state attorney generals, urged the U.S. Supreme Court to carefully consider Donald Trumps arguments as it weighs whether he is immune from prosecution for the January 6 United States Capitol attack. ^[6] The friend-of-the-court brief stated that their "states represent millions of Americans, many of whom worry that the timing of this prosecution was calculated to silence or to imprison President Biden's political rival." ^[6]
Personal life
Murrill and her husband have been married for over 30 years. They have four sons.[7]
References[
- "Attorney General Voter Guide: Read about candidates Lindsey Cheek, Liz Murrill". NOLA.com. November 6, 2023.
- "Eighth-generation Louisianan, Liz Baker Murrill, makes her bid for Attorney General". The Times.
- Bridges, Tyler (January 27, 2023). "Liz Murrill, top aide to AG Jeff Landry, will run for attorney general". NOLA.com.
- Finn, James (October 14, 2023). "Republican and Democrat to compete in runoff for Louisiana attorney general". NOLA.com.
- "Liz Murrill becomes Louisiana's first woman attorney general". lailluminator.com. November 19, 2023.
- ^ Jump up to:^a ^b Times, Staff report | The Advocate, David G. Savage | Los Angeles (2024-03-16). "Liz Murrill, other Republican attorneys general, support Donald Trump's bid for legal immunity". The Advocate. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
- Noakes, Alena (July 31, 2023). "Meet the candidate: Liz Murrill to maintain federally-focused casework, if elected next La. AG". KALB.
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Solicitor General, Louisiana DOJ
Louisiana Department of Justice
Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Contact info
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About
Experienced litigation attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and facilitator.Experienced litigation attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and facilitator.
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ExperienceExperience
Louisiana Department of JusticeLouisiana Department of Justice 8 yrs 3 mos8 yrs 3 mos
- The Solicitor General is Lead Counsel in a wide array of special constitutional litigation and supervisor of state and federal civil and criminal appeals in which the Attorney General has an interest. The Administrative Director is responsible for legislative and governmental affairs, agency budget, finances, procurement, IT Dept, litigation support, HR and policy for 460 employees.The Solicitor General is Lead Counsel in a wide array of special constitutional litigation and supervisor of state and federal civil and criminal appeals in which the Attorney General has an interest. The Administrative Director is responsible for legislative and governmental affairs, agency budget, finances, procurement, IT Dept, litigation support, HR and policy for 460 employees.…see more
- Director, Civil DivisionDirector, Civil Division Jan 2016 - Jan 2017 · 1 yr 1 moJan 2016 - Jan 2017 · 1 yr 1 moBaton Rouge, Louisiana AreaBaton Rouge, Louisiana Area
- Manages staff of appropriately 45 attorneys and support staff handling opinion requests, environmental and land litigation, constitutional challenges, and other cases against the State of Litigation.Manages staff of appropriately 45 attorneys and support staff handling opinion requests, environmental and land litigation, constitutional challenges, and other cases against the State of Litigation.
MediatorMediator
Perry Dampf Dispute SolutionsPerry Dampf Dispute SolutionsMay 2015 - Jan 2016 · 9 mosMay 2015 - Jan 2016 · 9 mos
- Mediation and arbitration services.Mediation and arbitration services.
- Managing DirectorManaging Director
Strategic Governmental Solutions, LLCStrategic Governmental Solutions, LLCMar 2015 - Jan 2016 · 11 mosMar 2015 - Jan 2016 · 11 mos6717 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 708086717 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
- Consulting with individuals and businesses who do business with state and local government.
- Provide mediation, special master and arbitration services.
- Assist with individuals and businesses navigating the legislative process.- Consulting with individuals and businesses who do business with state and local government. - Provide mediation, special master and arbitration services. - Assist with individuals and businesses navigating the legislative process.…see more
State of LouisianaState of Louisiana 6 yrs 1 mo6 yrs 1 mo
- Provided wide spectrum of legal advice and management of legal and legislative affairs for the Division of Administration and the Commissioner's Executive Team.
- Oversight of the Office of General Counsel's staff of 22 attorneys and administrative support professionals, as well as the $2mm OGC budget.
- Represented the Commissioner and Division of Administration in state and federal legal proceedings and other matters involving state government.
- Drafted legislation and testifies before legislative committees on a wide variety of proposed legislation impacting the state budget.- Provided wide spectrum of legal advice and management of legal and legislative affairs for the Division of Administration and the Commissioner's Executive Team. - Oversight of the Office of General Counsel's staff of 22 attorneys and administrative support professionals, as well as the $2mm OGC budget. - Represented the Commissioner and Division of Administration in state and federal legal proceedings and other matters involving state government. - Drafted legislation and testifies before legislative committees on a wide variety of proposed legislation impacting the state budget.…see more
- Served as Deputy Executive Counsel for two 1/2 years and then 1/2 years as Executive Counsel to Governor Bobby Jindal. The Office of Executive Counsel is the chief legal advisor to the Governor.
- During my tenure in the office, we handled all day to day affairs of the office, reviewed legislation, engaged legislators on amendments and testified in legislative committees. In addition to these legal affairs, I was also engaged in the legal response of the Governor's Office to the BP Oil Spill, the H1N1 virus and hurricane season.- Served as Deputy Executive Counsel for two 1/2 years and then 1/2 years as Executive Counsel to Governor Bobby Jindal. The Office of Executive Counsel is the chief legal advisor to the Governor. - During my tenure in the office, we handled all day to day affairs of the office, reviewed legislation, engaged legislators on amendments and testified in legislative committees. In addition to these legal affairs, I was also engaged in the legal response of the Governor's Office to the BP Oil Spill, the H1N1 virus and hurricane season.…see more
- United States Supreme Court Judicial FellowUnited States Supreme Court Judicial Fellow
Federal Judicial CenterFederal Judicial CenterSep 2007 - Aug 2008 · 1 yrSep 2007 - Aug 2008 · 1 yrWashington D.C. Metro AreaWashington D.C. Metro Area
- Served one year as the Supreme Court Fellow assigned to the Federal Judicial Center, which provides legal research support and education to the federal judiciary.
- Worked closely with the International Judicial Affairs office providing briefings to special judicial visitors from around the world interested in studying the US judicial system.- Served one year as the Supreme Court Fellow assigned to the Federal Judicial Center, which provides legal research support and education to the federal judiciary. - Worked closely with the International Judicial Affairs office providing briefings to special judicial visitors from around the world interested in studying the US judicial system.…see more
EducationEducation
LSU LawLSU Law Doctor of Law (J.D.), Law, civil lawDoctor of Law (J.D.), Law, civil law1988 - 19911988 - 1991
- Activities and societies: Editor in Chief of the Louisiana Law ReviewActivities and societies: Editor in Chief of the Louisiana Law Review
Pepperdine LawPepperdine Law Master of Laws (LL.M.), Alternative Dispute ResolutionMaster of Laws (LL.M.), Alternative Dispute Resolution2006 - 20102006 - 2010
VolunteeringVolunteering
- Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors
Family Services of Baton RougeFamily Services of Baton RougeSocial ServicesSocial Services
- Committee member & Thirst For Justice volunteerCommittee member & Thirst For Justice volunteer
Baton Rouge Bar Association Pro Bono CommitteeBaton Rouge Bar Association Pro Bono CommitteeSocial ServicesSocial Services
Show all 5 volunteer experiences
SkillsSkills
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Endorsed by Jean Faria who is highly skilled at thisEndorsed by Jean Faria who is highly skilled at this](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-murrill-4368a6b7/overlay/urn:li:fsd_skill:%28ACoAABje5OoBcSkU0Gm6q7Ts0irVFYLnvEf5WLQ,1193805715%29/endorsers?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAABje5OoBcSkU0Gm6q7Ts0irVFYLnvEf5WLQ&tabIndex=1&modalTabIndex=1)
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Endorsed by Jean Faria who is highly skilled at thisEndorsed by Jean Faria who is highly skilled at this](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-murrill-4368a6b7/overlay/urn:li:fsd_skill:%28ACoAABje5OoBcSkU0Gm6q7Ts0irVFYLnvEf5WLQ,1193805833%29/endorsers?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAABje5OoBcSkU0Gm6q7Ts0irVFYLnvEf5WLQ&tabIndex=1&modalTabIndex=1)
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ReceivedReceivedGivenGiven
[Paul VamvasPaul Vamvas · 3rdThird degree connection
Assistant Division Director, Education Division at Federal Judicial CenterAssistant Division Director, Education Division at Federal Judicial CenterApril 16, 2015, Paul worked with Elizabeth on the same teamApril 16, 2015, Paul worked with Elizabeth on the same team](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-vamvas-227b12)
- Elizabeth is one of those people who seeks out more work and new challenges and does everything with an unsurpassed degree of professionalism and verve. She possesses both an ability to see a problem broadly and to focus in on details that need to be attended to. Everyone I knew who worked with Elizabeth at the Federal Judicial Center thought highly of her and her work.Elizabeth is one of those people who seeks out more work and new challenges and does everything with an unsurpassed degree of professionalism and verve. She possesses both an ability to see a problem broadly and to focus in on details that need to be attended to. Everyone I knew who worked with Elizabeth at the Federal Judicial Center thought highly of her and her work.
PublicationsPublications
- Casenote, Usurping the Executive Power: State Board of Ethics v. Green, 51 La. Law Rev. 911 (1991).Casenote, Usurping the Executive Power: State Board of Ethics v. Green, 51 La. Law Rev. 911 (1991).
- Comment, Psychological Expert Testimony on a Child’s Veracity in Child Sexual Abuse Prosecutions, 50 La. Law Rev. 1039 (1990).
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https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/417416-suing-americas-manufacturers-calling-them-a-public-nuisance-wont/
Across the country, the jobs of manufacturing workers are being threatened by trial attorneys and politicians targeting manufacturers with baseless lawsuits based on the legal theory of “public nuisance,” attempting to hold manufacturers responsible for harms that are often far outside of their control. While trial lawyers have pursued such lawsuits for years, there has been a dramatic increase over the past year, as lawyers team up with states, cities and counties to sue manufacturers over climate change. This is why, one year ago, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) launched the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project (MAP) to help bring attention to the coordinated campaign behind these lawsuits and has made it clear that they will do nothing to improve the environment but could do serious damage to our legal system and our manufacturing industry.
California Manufacturers and Technology AssociationPresident Dorothy Rothrock has said the law firms are in it for the money. Indeed, the private attorneys representing the municipalities stand to earn hundreds of millions of dollars if they get a favorable ruling in court.
To date, 14 municipalities and one state have filed such litigation against dozens of energy manufacturers.{mosads}:
So far, each lawsuit that has been considered in federal court has been dismissed, with the judges finding several flaws in the municipalities’ arguments. In dismissing the cases brought by San Francisco and Oakland, U.S. District Judge William Alsup rightly told the plaintiffs that the court is not the proper branch of government to address the issue of climate change:
“The problem deserves a solution on a more vast scale than can be supplied by a district judge or jury in a public nuisance case,” Judge Alsup wrote in his opinion. “The Court will stay its hand in favor of solutions by the legislative and executive branches.”
U.S. District Judge John Keenan agreed with Judge Alsup’s logic, dismissing New York City’s climate lawsuit against five of the country’s largest energy companies in July. Another fatal flaw in New York City’s argument, Keenan found, was that the plaintiff was attempting to hold only manufacturers accountable for climate change when it is a problem to which everyone contributes. “Aren’t the plaintiffs using the product?” Judge Keenan asked the city’s outside counsel. “Does the city have clean hands?”
These dismissals are an encouraging sign that the outstanding lawsuits against manufacturers — filed by Rhode Island, Baltimore, Boulder and others — will face a similar fate in the coming months.
It is also encouraging that a growing number of public officials are speaking out against the litigation. For example, in Colorado, the state’s newly elected attorney general Phil Weiser recently criticized the climate lawsuit filed by three municipalities in his state, saying he is “uncomfortable with the litigation because the case for it hasn’t been made.”
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunterhas also commented on the lawsuits, saying, “In short, the courts are no place to determine national environmental policy. And public nuisance is not a theory the judges should employ in these kind of cases.”
Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill said these suits “commandeer the rightful role of Congress to pass policy for the nation and are improper in terms of trying to legislate extraterritorial economic policy from the states in which they originate.”
We will continue to fight on behalf of manufacturing workers whose jobs are at stake. Manufacturing is too critical to the American economy to allow this threat to go unanswered.
NOTE: This post has been updated from the original to correct Judge Keenan’s first name and to clarify the lawsuits that have been dismissed.
Lindsey de la Torre is the Executive Director of the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, a project of the National Association of Manufacturers’ Center for Legal Action. She previously served in the office of Presidential Personnel in the George W. Bush White House and in the Office of Associate Attorney General at the U.S. Dept. of Justice.
TAGS ABUSE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEMCLIMATE CHANGELAWSUITSNUISANCE
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