Court cites AG’s “failure to respond” to describe his incompetence and arrogance

Yesterday, Greg Abbott was dealt a humiliating rebuke by a Federal District Judge ruling on attorney fees connected to Texas redistricting litigation. Not only did Federal District Court Judge Rosemary M. Collyer rule against Abbott, she issued an extraordinary opinion slamming his incompetence and arrogance. It is just the latest example of Greg Abbott bungling redistricting litigation costing Texas taxpayers millions.

You don’t have to be an attorney to get the gist of the Court’s views of Abbott’s legal approach. Here is an excerpt from the very first paragraph in the opinion.


“This matter presents a case study in how not to respond to a motion for attorney fees and costs. … rather than engage the fee applicants, Plaintiff Texas basically ignores the arguments supporting an award of fees and costs. In a three-page filing entitled “Advisory,” Texas trumpets the Supreme Court’s decision, expresses indignation at having to respond at all, and presumes that the motion for attorney fees is so frivolous that Texas need not provide further briefing in opposition unless requested. Such an opposition is insufficient in this jurisdiction. Circuit precedent and the Local Rules of this Court provide that the failure to respond to an opposing party’s arguments results in waiver as to the unaddressed contentions, and the Court finds that Texas’s “Advisory” presents no opposition on the applicable law. Accordingly, the Court will award the requested fees and costs.”