Austin judge signs order blocking arrest of quorum-busting Democrats
Source: KVUE ABC
AUSTIN, Texas A criminal district judge in Austin has signed an order blocking the arrest of any quorum-busting House Democrats, saying that doing so would be a misinterpretation of House rules and the Texas Constitution.
Judge Brad Urrutia signed the order Sunday night, and it was filed by Austin attorneys representing 19 plaintiffs Monday morning.
The order blocks Gov. Greg Abbott, House Speaker Dade Phelan and law enforcement agencies such as the Texas Department of Public Safety and Capitol police from "detaining, confining, or otherwise restricting a Texas House Democrat's movement without his or her consent. It also prevents them from "issuing an warrants or other instruments demanding the detention, confinement or other restriction of a Texas House Democrat's movement."
Read more: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-judge-texas-legislature-democrats-quorom-arrest/269-3b7553e3-ffd8-45d4-9525-5ed7bb9a5ae1
LEW
(1,072 posts)So glad sensible people are finally standing up for what is right; not letting these uber radical repubs to keep getting away with their crap!
Talitha
(6,613 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(145,554 posts)Greg is going to be pissed
Link to tweet
State District Judge Brad Urrutia, a Democrat, signed the order late Sunday night restricting Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan from "detaining, confining or otherwise restricting" the free movement of House Democrats within the state or issuing any warrants ordering their confinement.
The order expires in 14 days unless extended by Urrutia. The court will hear arguments on a temporary injunction on Aug. 20 where Abbott and Phelan must show why a temporary injunction should not be filed against them.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 19 House Democrats by attorneys Sam Bassett, Jeremy Monthy and Megan Rue.
It is the second lawsuit filed by House Democrats in an attempt to avoid arrest if they returned to Texas. The other was filed by attorney Craig Washington in federal court in Austin on behalf of 22 House Democrats. It was riddled with problems, including subsequent statements by at least four of the plaintiffs that they had not authorized the suit on their behalf.
Evolve Dammit
(16,763 posts)KS Toronado
(17,317 posts)Inquiring minds want to know.
Evolve Dammit
(16,763 posts)jmowreader
(50,562 posts)We wait until 14 Texas Senate Republicans and 20 Texas House Republicans are isolating after coming up positive for COVID. At that point the Democrats fly back to Austin, impeach their moron governor and pass a good voting rights law.
onetexan
(13,058 posts)BUT...they did the impossible & raised the urgency of the matter to national level. Now Biden admin must take up the cause & get it done federally. Democracy is in danger.
LeftInTX
(25,551 posts)They've all been vaccinated...
Even if Dems would manage to pass to some good legislation, Abbott won't sign it.
iluvtennis
(19,871 posts)Hekate
(90,793 posts)NCjack
(10,279 posts)multigraincracker
(32,715 posts)calimary
(81,466 posts)FUCK you, GOP.
MichMan
(11,971 posts)Nothing anyone can do about it now. Prevents the Republicans from passing anything until their terms expire.
Raine1967
(11,589 posts)It's a pretty interesting thought.
Marthe48
(17,018 posts)God, I hope we win this fight.
FreepFryer
(7,077 posts)Imho they should be prepared to have their freedom taken and to have to regain what is rightly theirs in this order, should they return and risk it.
KS Toronado
(17,317 posts)whathehell
(29,090 posts)Scruffy1
(3,256 posts)They currently have ten R's under quarantine for the "hoax" that went away by last summer.
Ford_Prefect
(7,919 posts)He serves until 2024 after re-election in 2020 with 426,000 votes. Note: he ran unopposed in BOTH elections.
mbmsr
(28 posts)regnaD kciN
(26,045 posts)...and the police there would comply.
JohnnyRingo
(18,641 posts)Probably the same judge who let Yosemite Sam go on probation for shooting up saloons.
MichMan
(11,971 posts)they can just get up and leave in the middle of a session, therefore making a quorum impossible?
Republicans could never pass anything.. lol
Raine1967
(11,589 posts)until the special session is over.
This feels like a trap.