Nun accuses Louisiana of blocking death row clemency appeals in lawsuit

Sister Helen Prejean, known for 1995 film Dead Man Walking, accues board of pardons of breaking state's public meetings law

Sister Helen Prejean, the Catholic nun and anti-death penalty advocate, is accusing Louisiana's board of pardons of breaking the state's public meetings law to effectively delay clemency petitions for death row inmates.

The action pits the 84-year-old sister, who came to prominence as the author of the book behind the 1995 film Dead Man Walking, against Louisiana's far-right attorney general, Jeff Landry. Landry is part of a legal effort seeking to block the pardon board from hearing mass clemency petitions.