Texas Dem Judge Blocks Arrest of AWOL State House Democrats
9th August 2021
State District Judge Brad Urrutia in Travis County, which includes the state Capitol in Austin, Texas, issued the temporary restraining order late Sunday night, The Texas Tribune reported Monday.
The order is for 14 days unless extended by Urrutia and it blocks state police – on the permission of GOP Gov. Greg Abbott and GOP House Speak Dade Phelan – from “detaining, confining, or otherwise restricting” free movement of Texas House Democrats that fled the state to avoid losing votes in another special session, according to the report.