Houston Chronicle by Taylor Goldenstein July 19, 2019
The special prosecutors in the state’s case against Attorney General Ken Paxton on securities fraud charges are asking a Harris County judge to set their pay.
The request, made in a motion filed this week in Harris County district court, comes after the lawyers were dealt a blow last month by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals when it declined to reconsider an earlier ruling that allowed a $2,000 limit on pretrial work.
A Collin County district court judge in 2015 had approved a rate of $300 an hour, but the top court ruled that rate could not be paid because state and local rules required appointed lawyers to be held to pre-established fee schedules.
This is the latest in a long-running legal battle with several hiccups that has delayed Paxton’s trial for four years. The issue over pay has held up the case since 2017. Meanwhile, Paxton was re-elected for a second term last year.
More:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Special-prosecutors-in-AG-Paxton-s-criminal-14108753.php
