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Texas attorney general faces ethics probe over gay marriage
Source: Reuters
World | Thu Feb 11, 2016 12:00pm EST
Texas attorney general faces ethics probe over gay marriage
AUSTIN, TEXAS | BY JON HERSKOVITZ
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is being probed for ethics violations for telling county clerks that they could deny marriage licenses to same sex-couples, another potential setback for the state's top lawyer, who is already facing felony charges.
The Texas Bar Association ordered its Board of Disciplinary Appeals this week top look into Paxton, his office and Houston attorney Eddie Rodriguez said on Thursday. If Paxton is found to have an ethics violation, he could be disbarred, which means he could no longer serve as attorney general.
Attorneys who asked for the probe said Paxton acted illegally in asking that state officials violate the U.S. Constitution by refusing to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples, in defiance of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that made gay marriage legal nationally.
"Attorney General Paxton has a right to disagree with a ruling of the Supreme Court. Lawyers do that every single day. What makes a difference is that you cannot encourage people to violate that ruling and that law," said Rodriguez, who led the call for the probe.
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Texas attorney general faces ethics probe over gay marriage
AUSTIN, TEXAS | BY JON HERSKOVITZ
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is being probed for ethics violations for telling county clerks that they could deny marriage licenses to same sex-couples, another potential setback for the state's top lawyer, who is already facing felony charges.
The Texas Bar Association ordered its Board of Disciplinary Appeals this week top look into Paxton, his office and Houston attorney Eddie Rodriguez said on Thursday. If Paxton is found to have an ethics violation, he could be disbarred, which means he could no longer serve as attorney general.
Attorneys who asked for the probe said Paxton acted illegally in asking that state officials violate the U.S. Constitution by refusing to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples, in defiance of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that made gay marriage legal nationally.
"Attorney General Paxton has a right to disagree with a ruling of the Supreme Court. Lawyers do that every single day. What makes a difference is that you cannot encourage people to violate that ruling and that law," said Rodriguez, who led the call for the probe.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-texas-paxton-idUSKCN0VK1VU
LBN thread: Panel rules Texas attorney general to face ethics complaint
