Appeals court rejects bid to reinstate Ken Paxton judge

The state’s highest criminal court Wednesday rejected an appeal from prosecutors in the criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, letting stand a lower-court ruling that ousted the trial judge from the case.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals announced the decision without comment.

Prosecutors sought to reinstate state District Judge George Gallagher, who had been removed from Paxton’s case last week when the Dallas-based 5th Court of Appeals, ruling on objections raised by defense lawyers, said the judge lost authority after he moved Paxton’s case to Houston in April.

Under state law, the court said, Gallagher needed the consent of the defense and prosecutors to continue presiding over the case in Houston. Paxton’s legal team, hoping for a new judge, withheld their consent, while prosecutors fought to keep Gallagher on the case.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/appeals-court-rejects-bid-reinstate-ken-paxton-judge/ZzbCffMDkoEXbPnPGveoiJ/