Texas Supreme Court will take weeks to review request to expel Democrats who left state

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Photo: Julius Shieh (FOX 7 Austin)

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Supreme Court has granted a request for an expedited brief and review period on whether Democrats who left the state and broke quorum can be expelled from their seats, but not as fast as Gov. Greg Abbott requested.

When Abbott initially filed for the Supreme Court to remove Democratic Caucus Leader Rep. Gene Wu from office last week, he asked for a decision to be made by Friday. The court waited until Monday and then set a schedule for briefs to be filed, while combining the case with a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is seeking to expel Wu and 12 other Democrats from office.

Abbott and Paxton claim that by leaving the state during the special session, lawmakers have abandoned their office.

Abbott has also suggested that Democrats accepted money to leave the state, which he said was bribery.

The court has instead set a three-week timeline for both sides to file their briefs with final responses to be filed by Sept. 4.

Abbott touted the decision as a victory on X.

"Closer to consequences for Texas Democrats running away from their duties and spending the summer in California and Illinois," Abbott said.

Texas House Democrats leave state to break quorum

The backstory:

Dozens of House Democrats left the state on Aug. 3 to prevent passage of a redrawn congressional map that Republicans hope will bring five additional seats during the midterm elections.

Democrats have opposed the idea of mid-decade redistricting as a power grab from Republicans. The move by Texas leaders has brought threats of retaliatory redistricting from blue states, including California and New York, to add more Democratic seats.