A state judge has ruled that Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry can block state legal contracts that include LGBT protections.

Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, issued an executive order earlier this year that requires all state contracts to include language prohibiting discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Edwards filed a lawsuit after meeting with Landry, a Republican, on the issue.

According to The Times-Picayune, Judge Donald Johnson of 19th Judicial District Court found that Edwards does not have the right to sue Landry on the issue. Johnson also said that the law is uncertain on who has the final word over such contracts.

“I believe that the law is uncertain – and it does not provide the court with a clear path,” Johnson said in delivering his ruling from the bench. “The court denies the request of our governor.”

At a press conference earlier this month, Landry said that he believes that he has the authority to block the contracts because he was “defending the Legislature and their priorities and their wishes,” a reference to lawmakers' repeated failure to approve such protections.

“It's unfortunate that the governor continues to want to push for a protected class that the Legislature has six times – with bipartisan support – rejected,” Landry said.

The Times reported that Landry has blocked between 40 and 50 state contracts with private law firms over the included language.