Texas Justice Says Political Split Triggered Paxton Ethics Case

Motivations behind attempts to sanction Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and a top lawyer in his office for challenging the results of the 2020 Presidential election were questioned by some members of the state’s highest court Thursday.

During oral arguments, Texas Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Blacklock said steps taken by the state bar’s disciplinary arm are grounded not in ethical concerns, but partisan politics.

“You don’t want to say it, but it’s obvious—the difference is political perspectives,” Blacklock said.

Blacklock, one of the court’s nine Republican justices, even suggested turning the tables and sanctioning the bar for bringing a ...