BREAKING: AUSTIN, TX— A national alliance of state attorneys general joined together to file an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of Texas in support of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office and top deputy, First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster.
The amicus brief was a response to “a blatant case of politically motivated lawfare launched by the State Bar of Texas,” a new OAG press release said.
“The case originated in response to complaints against First Assistant Webster and Attorney General Paxton for their decision to file landmark litigation known as Texas v. Pennsylvania regarding the 2020 election.”
In a separate case, the State Bar of Texas attempts to punish Paxton with “similar baseless allegations.”
In Texas v Pennsylvania, the source of the State Bar of Texas’ blatant political retaliation, Paxton contested the administration of the 2020 presidential election in four states: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, addressed genuine concerns of unconstitutional conduct by the four states. It alleged that these states violated the U.S. Constitution by changing election procedures through non-legislative means, which is prohibited by independent state legislature doctrine.
Now, the State Bar of Texas’ Commission for Lawyer Discipline is attempting to censure Paxton and Webster for Texas v. Pennsylvania, claiming that Texas made misrepresentations and false statements during the lawsuit and initiated disciplinary action.
The commission’s bogus accusations were initially dismissed, but after the organization appealed, the case reopened and is now before the Supreme Court of Texas.
“The real question in this case… is whether courts will permit the politicization of the State Bars and weaponization of disciplinary rules against elected executive officers discharging their constitutional duties,” said the amicus brief.
“Moreover, there is an appreciable risk that this type of political activism will incentivize bar complaints made for the sole purpose of obstructing the ability of attorneys general and their staff to carry out their constitutional responsibilities. The weaponization of the attorney grievance process impedes the work of the people and frustrates the constitutional structure.”
Following the brief, Paxton expressed gratitude for supporters and fellow attorneys general.
“Thank you to my fellow attorneys general for siding with law and order,” said Paxton. “The State Bar is using a disgraceful tactic: weaponizing politically motivated lawfare to intimidate elected leaders and their staff from upholding the Constitution when it inconveniences their political agenda. This attempt to punish First Assistant Attorney General Webster and me for standing up for our country, our State, and our citizens will not succeed.”
