Collin County seeks to cut fees for Ken Paxton prosecutors

[TexasTowelie]

Collin County commissioners have asked a state judge to dramatically cut the fees that can be paid to prosecutors in the criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

During a budget hearing Tuesday, all five commissioners approved a nonbinding resolution asking state District Judge George Gallagher to cap fees at $1,000 per lawyer for pretrial preparation and $1,000 for every day of trial — well below county estimates that the Paxton prosecution could cost $285,000.

Three of the five commissioners have previously donated to Paxton’s political campaigns.

Although commissioners said their goal was to control the county’s roughly $310 million budget, the move raised questions about their motivations, said Craig McDonald with Texans for Public Justice, which filed a criminal complaint about Paxton’s securities dealings last year.

Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/collin-county-seeks-to-cut-fees-for-ken-paxton-pro/nnbfK/

[Downwinder]

1. Have they tried gofundme.com?

[TexasTowelie]

2. This is essentially the same tactic that Rick Perry tried

when it came to investigate him and his appointees--underfund the prosecution. I wouldn't be surprised if Paxton was on the telephone with those who made contributions to his campaign to coerce this motion by the Collin County commissioners. My opinion is that all criminal charges of statewide officials above a certain rank should be paid by the state without question so as to avoid these situations--particularly if there are claims of official immunity (which do not apply in this particular case).

[Downwinder]

3. A small county cannot carry the

financial burden of a death penalty case with all of the appeals.

I sort of feel that Paxton is Collin County's boy so let them carry the load. I would consider contributing to the prosecution. It would be sort of fun to set up a Mall table collecting for the prosecution.

[Gothmog]

4. This vote was advisory and is not binding on the judge

[TexasTowelie]

5. It will be interesting to see if the judge puts the financial constraints

by cutting off funding for prosecutors since he has been a donor to Paxton's campaigns.

Are you aware of any precedent where funding for special prosecutors has been limited?

By the way, Paxton did get two new lawyers to represent him when he showed up in court today.