AG: The criminal securities fraud trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton will be held in Harris Co., ordered District Judge George Gallagher. In a terse statement, Gallagher said he chose Harris Co. because both sides’ lead counsels were based there and the county “has the facilities to accommodate the trial.” Paxton’s trial was originally scheduled to begin May 1 in Collin Co. Prosecutors asked in February for a venue change, arguing that the jury pool had been tainted by the persistent actions of a “posse of spokesmen, supporters and surrogates.” After Gallagher’s ruling was released, Paxton’s attorneys requested a new judge be assigned to preside over the case.
Austin: Unsuccessful 2014 city council candidate Laura Pressley has petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to overturn a Third Court of Appeals decision, which upheld a lower court’s dismissal of her claim, and order a new election. Pressley argues that Travis Co. election officials did not obtain sufficient records from electronic voting equipment and, thus, it is impossible to know who actually won the election. Council member Greg Casar defeated Presssley, 65%-35%, in their 2014 runoff. He has since won re-election.
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