New Orleans criminal court shows huge flaws in competent law proceedings
LEGAL EXPERT ANALYSIS: "THIS INDICTMENT IS DEAD"
Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino
According to Ciolino, the Supreme Court's order effectively puts the entire matter on hold and remands it back to the criminal district court. However, he emphasized that the language the Supreme Court uses sends a clear message.
"It's clear to me from the language of this Supreme Court order that this indictment is dead," Ciolino said. "It's just being sent back for the nails to be put in the coffin."
Ciolino expects a flurry of upcoming legal filings as the case returns to the lower court.
The Supreme Court made it clear that they expect the attorney general to file a motion to recuse Special Prosecutor Laurie White over the suggested conflicts of interest. Beyond that, Ciolino anticipates a motion to recuse the judge, as well as a motion to quash the indictment entirely based on procedural irregularities. These irregularities include the breach of grand jury secrecy and the announcement of the indictment in a closed courtroom.