A judge ruled in favor of Texas Democrats who fled the state last month to block a Republican-backed voting law, blocking Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and other officials from arresting the lawmakers.
Judge Brad Urrutia, a Democrat, signed the order Sunday night, issuing an injunction that prevents Phelan, a Republican, from arresting and detaining the Democrats. Dozens of lawmakers last month fled the state and went to Washington to protest against the law by denying Republicans quorum to start the legislative session.
The order prevents Pheland, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, and the Texas Department of Public Safety from “detaining, confining, or otherwise restricting a Texas House Democrat’s movement without his or her consent,” and it also prevents them from “issuing warrants or other instruments demanding the detention, confinement or other restriction of a Texas House Democrat’s movement.”
Texas law, Urrutia ruled, does not “provide for the physical confinement of lawmakers who have committed no crime.”
The order, however, will expire in two weeks from Sunday unless it is extended.
Republican leaders will have a chance to fight the temporary restraining order in an upcoming court hearing, local media reported.