Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murill is calling on the state Supreme Court to create a firm legal framework aimed at fast-tracking the execution of five death row inmates.
The move is in response to what she describes as an excessively delayed post-conviction process that she believes is denying justice to the victims’ families.
Murill has filed writs urging the Louisiana Supreme Court to establish standards for post-conviction relief when inmates have waited decades to pursue optional appeals. She argues that the delays, in some cases, prejudice the state’s ability to prosecute and deliver justice effectively.
“District courts are not applying the law consistently,” Murill said, accusing some of creating unauthorized exceptions in capital punishment cases.
According to Murill, setting clear and statewide legal standards will allow lower courts to move such cases forward more quickly and fairly. She contends that the drawn-out nature of the appeals process serves no valid legal or social purpose and fails the victims’ families who have waited years for closure.
All five inmates; Larry Roy, Antoinette Frank, Robert Miller, David Bowie, and Marcus Reed—have been convicted of murder and have undergone full appellate reviews. Yet, each continues to seek post-conviction relief, which Murill insists is optional and often exploited to delay justice.
“It’s shameful they wait decades to see justice carried out,” Murill stated. “I made a promise to put victims first, and I intend to keep that promise.”
Larry Roy, known as the “Cheneyville Slasher,” murdered his ex-girlfriend’s former partner and her aunt in a 1993 stabbing spree. Antoinette Frank, a former New Orleans police officer, killed her fellow officer and two restaurant owners during a robbery in 1995.
Robert Miller raped, robbed, and killed his landlord in 1997. David Bowie murdered a man in 1996 after a monetary dispute. Marcus Reed was convicted of killing three brothers in 2010, making his case the most recent. Murill has already filed writs for Roy and Frank. The remaining writs are expected soon.
Louisiana recently resumed capital punishment after a 15-year pause, executing Jessie Hoffman in March using nitrogen gas. Hoffman had been convicted in a 1996 rape and murder case.
Murill sees this resumption as a chance to reform how the state handles post-conviction appeals in capital cases.
She hopes that the Supreme Court will provide decisive guidance that ends inconsistent practices and helps the state achieve what she calls “long-overdue justice.”
“We must honor the victims and uphold the rule of law,” Murill said firmly.
If the Louisiana Supreme Court agrees to hear the cases, it could significantly change how capital punishment appeals are handled in the state moving forward.
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