Three Monroe City Council members and the publisher of the Monroe Free Press have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Louisiana law they claim illegally strips voting power from the city’s Black majority by transferring key appointment authority to the governor.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court’s Western District of Louisiana, targets Act 452 of 2025, which allows Governor Jeff Landry to appoint a fire chief if the city council fails to confirm a mayoral nominee within 12 months.
Plaintiffs Claim Racial Discrimination
The plaintiffs—City Council Chairman Bishop Rodney McFarland, Vice Chairman Verbon R. Muhammad Sr., Council Member Juanita G. Woods, and Roosevelt Wright Jr., publisher of the Free Press—argue the law violates the Voting Rights Act, the Equal Protection Clause, and both the U.S. and Louisiana constitutions by diluting Black voters’ electoral power.
Monroe is a home-rule charter city with a population of approximately 46,622, a majority of whom are Black. The five-member City Council includes three Black members—a 60% majority reflective of the city’s Black electorate.
Law Targets Only two cities
According to the complaint, Act 452 applies only to municipalities with populations between 45,000 and 48,000—a range that encompasses only Monroe and Alexandria among Louisiana cities. Both cities have a majority black population.
The lawsuit alleges that because the governor is elected statewide by a majority-white electorate, the law effectively strips Monroe’s Black majority City Council of its appointment authority, diluting the electoral strength of Black voters who elected the council majority.
Origins in Local Dispute
The legal battle stems from a dispute over filling the fire chief position, which became vacant in 2023. According to the complaint, Mayor Friday Ellis failed to adequately communicate with council leadership about the appointment, causing delays. To circumvent the council’s authority, Ellis discussed the matter with State Senator Stewart Cathey Jr., who subsequently sponsored Act 452.
The law took effect August 1, 2025, and includes a retroactive provision dating back to June 1, 2023.
Constitutional Claims
The plaintiffs note that prior to Act 452, the City Council held exclusive authority to appoint or confirm appointments of the city’s police and fire chiefs under Monroe’s home-rule charter.
The lawsuit argues the law conflicts with Monroe’s home rule charter and Louisiana Constitution Article VI, which guarantees home rule charter governments retain control over their own structure and organization. The complaint also claims the law violates Article VI, Section 9(B), which prohibits special or local laws affecting the structure of home rule municipalities.
Relief Sought
The plaintiffs are requesting the court declare Act 452 unconstitutional and issue both preliminary and permanent injunctions preventing its enforcement. The complaint notes that the governor has already made an appointment based on the mayor’s recommendation, and Mayor Ellis has already hired a fire chief, Timothy Williams, who is named as a defendant.
The lawsuit names Governor Landry, Mayor Ellis, Fire Chief Timothy Williams, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill as defendants, all in their official capacities.
The case has been assigned to Judge Terry Doughty with Magistrate Judge Kayla D. McClusky.
