Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is not backing down in his legal fight to have the seats of 13 Democratic state legislators declared vacant. On the grounds that they tried to break the quorum by leaving the state, Paxton alleges they abandoned their constitutional responsibilities and thus forfeited their offices. The Texas Attorney General's Office stated that Paxton has filed his merits brief with the Supreme Court of Texas, detailing the rationale behind his request.
Responding to the Texas Attorney General's Office claims, the Texas Supreme Court had previously set an expedited briefing schedule. Outlining the legal basis for this action, Paxton submitted his merits briefing. Some of the Democrats in question, who had left Texas earlier this month, have since crossed state lines and returned. However, "Just because some of the runaway Democrats returned to Texas does not mean they get to escape the consequences of abandoning Texas and abdicating their responsibilities," Attorney General Paxton said. Adding that, "Crossing back over state lines does not erase weeks of silencing their own districts and forfeiting their offices," he also argued that job abandonment comes with its due consequences.
The legislators in question have until August 29 to file their responses, facing a suit that rests heavily on the legislators' own public statements. These statements are viewed by Paxton as self-incriminating evidence of their refusal to participate in legislative sessions, an act he equates with forfeiting their elected positions. The Texas Attorney General's Office has emphasized its commitment to pursue the case vigorously. In a statement obtained by the Texas Attorney General's News Releases, Paxton's office proclaimed its intent "to restore the rule of law and uphold the functioning of representative government in Texas."
