Texas Supreme Court Rules That Democrats Can Be Forcibly Brought To State Capitol To Achieve Quorum

The Texas Tribune reports:

The all-Republican court sided with Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan — and ordered a Travis County district judge to revoke his temporary restraining order blocking the civil arrest of Democratic lawmakers whose absences have denied the chamber the number of present members needed to move any legislation.

“The legal question before this Court concerns only whether the Texas Constitution gives the House of Representatives the authority to physically compel the attendance of absent members,” Justice Jimmy Blacklock wrote in the court’s opinion. “We conclude that it does, and we therefore direct the district court to withdraw the TRO.”

Read the full article.

The Texas Supreme Court ruled Tuesday evening that quorum-busting Democrats can be forced to return to the House chamber, using the power of arrest if necessary. https://t.co/33d6qnqW9W
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— Austin Statesman (@statesman) August 18, 2021