Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has issued an official opinion that takes aim at Gov. John Bel Edwards' mask mandate, closings of bars, and placing a 50-person limit on gatherings, saying the orders are "likely unenforceable and unconstitutional."
The nine-page advisory opinion does not have the force of law, but it does offer the legal opinion of the state's top law enforcer.
"Although the mask mandate and the 50-person limit may be good recommendations for personal safety, they may not be enforced with financial or criminal penalties," Landry said in his opinion.
The opinion was prepared at the request of a group of Louisiana lawmakers, including some who have been agitating for an end to Gov. John Bel Edwards' coronavirus pandemic emergency declaration.
Edwards on Wednesday issued his own statement, calling Landry's opinion "politically motivated."
My statement on the Attorney General's politically motivated opinion. #lagov #lalege------ pic.twitter.com/Qwyj6bNRqM
— John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) July 15, 2020"I wish Jeff Landry would listen to his own words from March 18 when he stood with me and said extraordinary measures were necessary to protect the people of our state during this COVID-19 crisis, encouraged Louisianans to follow my directives and said he was united with me in protecting the health and safety of the people of our state," Edwards declared. "I’m not sure what has changed since then, aside from the loss of 3,300 additional lives and more than 80,000 additional Louisianans becoming infected."
Landry has ordered masks be worn by all workers in the Louisiana Department of Justice.
