Texas District Attorneys Sue AG Paxton Over Controversial New Rules
Five Texas district attorneys have filed lawsuits against Attorney General Ken Paxton in response to new regulations that grant his office extensive access to records from their offices. The lawsuits, submitted to Travis County District Court, argue that the rules violate constitutional rights and impose excessive burdens on district attorneys.
Effective April 1, the rules allow Paxton’s office to request nearly all documents related to ongoing and closed cases from district attorneys in counties with populations exceeding 400,000—a requirement that currently affects only 13 counties statewide. The attorneys claim these rules aim to exert undue control over their offices, as they could be compelled to furnish vast amounts of data, including sensitive and confidential information.
The litigation addresses concerns that the new rules will not enhance community safety or transparency but rather divert resources away from prosecuting violent offenders. Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales highlighted that the reporting obligations do not improve public trust and significantly burden already limited resources.
The lawsuits also challenge the legality of the statute that the new rules are built upon, asserting that it does not bestow the sweeping authorities granted by Paxton’s regulations. Both lawsuits seek to prevent enforcement of these disputed rules, citing potential violations of the Texas Constitution’s separation of powers.
Paxton has defended the new measures, describing them as a necessary means of ensuring accountability among district attorneys who fail to prosecute serious crimes. His office claims there is minimal fiscal impact from these new obligations.
This legal battle represents a growing tension between state leaders and district attorneys over the interpretation of prosecutorial discretion in Texas, reflecting broader political conflicts within the state’s legal framework.
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