A judge has voided Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards' executive order protecting LGBT people, claiming it violates the state Constitution.

Attorney General Jeff Landry opposed Edwards' order, claiming it essentially created a new law without the Legislature's approval.

Signed in April, the measure provided workplace protections for LGBT state employees in areas like hiring, promotions and health care. Conflict over the order stalled dozens of contracts that included LGBT provisions, with Landry refusing to sign them and eventually suing Edwards.

Landry described the ruling as a reminder to Edwards that he must abide by the state Constitution.

"We do not live under a King in Louisiana. We have a Governor, an independent Attorney General, an elected Legislature, and a Court system who are all involved in governance along with others."

Initially he asked the court to throw out all the LGBT protections, but narrowed his request last week to target provisions for transgender workers. Judge Todd Hernandez's ruling on Wednesday, however, nullifies protections for all LGBT state employees, not just trans people.

In a statement, Governor Edwards said he was disappointed in Hernandez's findings.

"With great respect for the role of the Louisiana Legislature, we continue to believe that discrimination is not a Louisiana value and that we are best served as a state when employment decisions are based solely on an individual's qualifications and job performance."

He has indicated he will appeal the decision.