Texas Supreme Court Rejects Abbott Effort to Remove Democrats After Walkout
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The Texas Supreme Court rejected Governor Greg Abbott's attempt to remove Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to delay a Republican redistricting effort, effectively ending the legal battle.
- Chief Justice James D. Blacklock stated the court did not need to intervene in the political dispute since a quorum was restored within two weeks through political and practical means.
- The court, composed entirely of Republicans, did not rule on whether breaking quorum is a valid political protest or if it could lead to removal from office under different circumstances.
- The Democrats' departure to Chicago in August drew national attention to Texas's redistricting, which was part of a broader partisan battle over control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Republican leaders in Texas responded to the quorum-breaking by fining absent Democrats and issuing warrants to compel their return to the Capitol.