The City of El Paso has initiated legal action against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, challenging a ruling concerning the handling of public records, as reported by KFOX-TV. The suit follows a decision by the A.G.'s office on the release of legal billing invoices linked to lawsuits involving the El Paso Police Department. These records were sought by El Paso Matters through an open records request made in May, explicitly demanding an unredacted release of all documents, including those containing attorney-client privileged information and details of legal strategy.
According to KTSM, the city reached out to Paxton's office, seeking guidance on how to manage privileged data while remaining compliant with the open records request. In response, the Attorney General ruled in August that only limited redactions were appropriate. The City of El Paso, confronting the ruling, then filed its lawsuit on Thursday, September 11th, aiming for clarity on safeguarding sensitive communications within the legal framework of public disclosure.
Filing the lawsuit was more complicated than just a meeting and a decision. Before the City Council could even vote on whether to pursue the lawsuit, the City Attorney’s Office had already filed it, adhering to a 30-day deadline from the A.G.'s ruling. This move, obtained by KVIA, was explained by a city spokesperson who stated, "While the City Attorney’s Office acted to preserve the City’s legal rights, City Council retains full authority to determine whether the lawsuit continues." The spokesperson added that the Council had the power to withdraw the case, should they have decided against continuing with the suit in their meeting after filing.
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