Attorney General Ken Paxton prosecutors' pay violates state law, court rules
AUSTIN — More than three years after he was indicted, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is celebrating a major court decision that will further delay his criminal fraud trials.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Wednesday that prosecutors pursuing charges against Paxton should have been paid a fixed instead of an hourly rate. Their compensation broke local rules and state law, the court said, and a six-figure invoice the prosecutors submitted for their work on the case need not be paid.
The prosecutors have threatened to step down if they lost this fight, forcing new attorneys to be selected to pursue charges against the state’s sitting attorney general. In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, they said they're reviewing their options.
"While we are disappointed with the majority's ruling and are exploring all legal options available to us, it does not alter the fact that Ken Paxton remains charged with three serious felony offenses," special prosecutor Brian Wice said.
Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/11/21/appeals-court-rules-ken-paxton-prosecutors-pay-violates-state-law