Commissioners Court considers new lawsuit against Paxton

The Travis County Commissioners Court is on the verge of suing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton yet again over a public information-related dispute. Last week, the court voted to sue Paxton after his office issued an opinion that shot down the county’s attempt to keep secret the names of businesses that participate in an ex-offender employment program. On Tuesday, the court considered a new lawsuit over a similar opinion that would free up information from Travis County Emergency Medical Services “pertaining to a specific” but undisclosed accident. After discussing the item in executive session, the commissioners returned and voted on an action that stopped short of an outright lawsuit. Instead, County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said the motion, which was presented by Commissioner Margaret Gómez, would give the AG’s office a chance to withdraw the opinion based on a “misunderstanding of the facts.” Failing that, the county will then proceed with a lawsuit, although no timeline was spelled out. That motion was approved unanimously.