An executive order issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards that was aimed at protecting the rights of LGBT people in state government was thrown out today by a judge who says the governor exceeded his authority.
As The Associated Press reports, state District Judge Todd Hernandez ruled that Edwards’ anti-discrimination order is unconstitutional because it seeks to create or expand state law. The order prohibited discrimination in government and state contracts based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The decision delivered a significant victory to Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry, who filed the lawsuit challenging the LGBT-rights order. Landry praised the ruling and says his challenge was aimed at “upholding the checks and balances on executive authority as established in our state constitution.”
Edwards says his order, with an exception for contractors that are religious organizations, is a statement that Louisiana doesn’t discriminate. Landry says it tried to establish a new protected class of people that doesn’t exist in law and that lawmakers refused to add.
Hernandez agreed with Landry’s interpretation, saying in his written ruling that the Edwards order was “an unlawful usurp of the constitutional authority vested only in the legislative branch of government.”
Landry has blocked dozens of legal services contracts that contain the anti-discrimination language.
