NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A federal judge has granted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton a key win, allowing him to intervene in a lawsuit that produced the 2019 Harris County misdemeanor bail reform consent decree.
“The justice system must be dedicated to punishing the evildoer and protecting the innocent,” Paxton said in a press release on Wednesday. “But far too often, leftist judicial activists and other liberal anti-prison organizations have worked to make Texas less safe by throwing open the prison doors and unleashing criminals back onto the streets. I will do everything in my power to reverse this disastrous policy and uphold the law.”
TEXAS INVESTIGATING USTA FOR POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF LAW BANNING BIOLOGICAL MALES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS
A federal judge granted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton a key win by allowing him to intervene in a lawsuit that led to the 2019 Harris County misdemeanor bail reform consent decree. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
The O’Donnell Consent Decree stemmed from a 2016 class-action lawsuit arguing that Harris County’s prior bail practices were unconstitutional because they detained people charged with misdemeanors simply for being unable to afford cash bail.
A judge approved the decree in 2019, eliminating most cash bail for misdemeanor offenses and requiring release on unsecured bonds, while also creating an independent monitor to oversee compliance.
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES LAW REQUIRING DISPLAY OF TEN COMMANDMENTS IN TEXAS CLASSROOMS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Ken Paxton, Texas’ attorney general, said the justice system “must be dedicated to punishing the evildoer and protecting the innocent.” (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The new ruling opens the door for Paxton’s office to seek termination of the decree, arguing that it violates Texas law and endangers public safety.
Paxton’s office said the decree “enabled radical judges to more easily release criminals into Harris County communities” and that liberal activists have tried to expand its reach despite state laws imposing stricter bail standards.
The latest ruling allowing the attorney general to become involved in the lawsuit opens the door for his office to argue that the decree should be terminated. (Justin Lane/Reuters)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“General Paxton seeks to vacate the decree and ensure that the rights of Harris County citizens are represented in court,” the release said.
