NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The Louisiana office of the American Civil Liberties Union is suing Governor Bobby Jindal over an executive order that he signed last month.

The order, issued on May 19, protects state employees who refuse to complete part of their jobs or provide particular services because those duties contradict the workers’ religious beliefs.  Jindal’s order aims to remove any worry from those workers that they could lose their jobs or face other consequences.

The ACLU’s director in New Orleans, Marjorie Esman, says Jindal’s executive order is unconstitutional because it creates a group of people who will receive special protections that others won’t have.

“It creates a second, protected class of people who get special benefits, and the constitution of Louisiana does not give the governor the authority to do that,” Esman told WGNO News.

The executive order preceded the recent ruling by the U. S. Supreme Court regarding same-sex marriage, but it could be used by state workers who do not wish to perform the ceremonies.

In fact, an attorney for Jindal says any judges or justices of the peace who assert a religious objection to officiating a same-sex wedding ceremony could have their legal defense provided free of charge.

Esman says the ACLU is not asking for an injunction or any emergency relief in its lawsuit.

In a written statement, Governor Jindal says the ACLU is attacking civil liberties instead of defending them.