Illinois judge declines to hold Texas Dems who fled state over redistricting in contempt

An Illinois judge on Wednesday declined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to hold Texas Democrats who fled to the state to block Texas Republicans from approving a redistricting map in contempt. 

Paxton reached across state lines last week to ask the court to force the Texas lawmakers to return home. The request is just one of several court cases to arise from the state Democrats' effort to prevent a quorum in the Texas state House. 

Paxton and Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott have also asked the courts to rule that the lawmakers abandoned their posts by fleeing the state instead of participating in a special session about the Congressional map.

Judge Scott Larson determined that he does not have "subject matter jurisdiction" over the case and cannot comply with the request to find the lawmakers in contempt or force them to leave the state, according to The Hill.

“As the Petitioner has failed to present a legal basis for the court to obtain subject matter jurisdiction over this cause of action, this court is without jurisdiction to grant petitioner’s emergency motion to rule on pleadings,” Larson wrote. 

“This court does not find that it has subject matter jurisdiction, this court does not consider the issues of personal jurisdiction, venue or the merits of the underlying petition for rule to show cause or the request to issue a rule to show cause upon the respondents,” he added.

Paxton has also asked a California court to hold the Texas Democrats who fled to the Golden State in contempt, but the California judge has not yet issued its ruling.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.