# Texas Sues Non-Trump Voting States for . . . reasons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 9, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614 "2020-12-09T02:33:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/1 "2020-12-09T02:33:16Z")
This has been baffling (and raising my blood pressure) since early the afternoon. I haven’t seen any thread on it yet so figured I’d bring it up to anyone who had missed it. > **[Texas sues over election results in battleground states Biden won](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-lawsuit-supreme-court-2020-election-four-states-biden-won/)** > > In his long-shot lawsuit, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton takes aim at the results in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia. Short version, Texas feels that the battleground states who didn’t vote for Trump should be thrown out due to irregularities and fraud in the election, and that Texas has standing. Most people are (rightly) treating this as a statement, rather than an actual tactic. But . . . for shame. By the standards they’re using, I as a person could ask Texas votes to be thrown out because of irregularities in voting (with more proven issues!) because it hurts _my_ representation in Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/2 "2020-12-09T02:52:27Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Most people are (rightly) treating this as a statement, rather than an actual tactic. Shortly after the election I recall some NPR commentator saying that the law suits that Trump was contemplating were really just press releases with filing fees. This one also fits that category. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/3 "2020-12-09T02:56:35Z")
Given that SCOTUS has just rejected another GOP attempt to block certification of election results … > **[Supreme Court rejects Pennsylvania Republicans' attempt to block Biden victory...](https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/08/politics/supreme-court-pennsylvania-trump-biden/index.html)** > > The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a request from Pennsylvania Republicans to block certification of the commonwealth's election results, delivering a near fatal blow to the GOP's long-shot bid to invalidate President-elect Joe Biden's victory. … wouldn’t this rooster be better served by suing SCOTUS themselves in the Supreme Court 'cause they patently haven’t read the playbook? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/4 "2020-12-09T03:04:43Z")
Read it for yourself here: [https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/22o155.html](https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/22o155.html) (Ignore the SCOTUS graphics. The link works.) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/5 "2020-12-09T03:07:20Z")
what legal tools of any do we have to punish these fascists for trying to destroy democracy? anytime they attempt to subvert democracy the worst that happens is the court says no or they get laughed at. What happens when they pack the court with Sean Hannity clones? they won’t say no anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/6 "2020-12-09T03:15:47Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > what legal tools of any do we have to punish these fascists for trying to destroy democracy? Elections, while we still have them. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/7 "2020-12-09T03:20:40Z")
To me, it comes down to this: > **[Rod Blagojevich: Why did Trump just free a jailed Democrat?](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49377676)** > > Even the president's fellow Republicans disavowed his move to show mercy to the infamous ex-governor. Some think, “Why are triangles defending rectangles?” Others think, “Why are blues fighting for the rights of oranges” Still others wonder, “Why are even numbers defending odds, those bastards?” The unifying thread, whether you can see it overtly or not, is corruption. When the Wicked Witch unleashed her flying monkeys, there had to be others—like the Morally Bankrupt Sorceress of the Northeast, considered unleashing her gliding gibbons. 1. Can I get the wind of the leader to push my sails? 2. If I don’t back up this idiot, what’s the fallout? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/8 "2020-12-09T03:25:42Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > By the standards they’re using, I as a person could ask Texas votes to be thrown out because of irregularities in voting (with more proven issues!) because it hurts _my_ representation in Washington. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction when a state brings suit against another state. You, on the other hand, have to go through the federal court system. Maybe Texas thinks the Supreme Court will just hand Trump a victory 5-4 or 6-3 once the issue is properly before them. Maybe they’re just doing this so they can later tell the Texan Republican base, “we did all we could, blame the Supreme Court not us”. ~Max, not a lawyer ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/9 "2020-12-09T03:38:47Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Maybe Texas thinks the Supreme Court will just hand Trump a victory 5-4 or 6-3 once the issue is properly before them. Maybe they’re just doing this so they can later tell the Texan Republican base, “we did all we could, blame the Supreme Court not us”. It’s almost certainly the latter. Even the AG of Texas isn’t dumb enough to not see the problems with “I don’t like the way other states ran their elections so I’m going to sue and ask SCOTUS to force those state to appoint electors the way my state wants them to be appointed”. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/10 "2020-12-09T03:39:35Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Short version, Texas feels that the battleground states who didn’t vote for Trump should be thrown out due to irregularities and fraud in the election, and that Texas has standing. I feel like I have to stand up for my state here a bit and say that “Texas” does not feel this way. Our shitbag Attorney General, who’s under indictment for felon securities fraud and recently caught up in an entirely separate scandal trying to obstruct the investigation of one of his campaign donors, filed this suit. Notably our solicitor general, who normally would argue the state’s case before the Supreme Court, kept his name off the filing. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/11 "2020-12-09T03:47:55Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > It’s almost certainly the latter. Even the AG of Texas isn’t dumb enough to not see the problems with “I don’t like the way other states ran their elections so I’m going to sue and ask SCOTUS to force those state to appoint electors the way my state wants them to be appointed”. I don’t know why you say that. The Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, is the face of the lawsuit. Maybe you mean Solicitor General Hawkins. See also **flurb** ’s commend directly above mine. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/12 "2020-12-09T03:50:04Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Maybe they’re just doing this so they can later tell the Texan Republican base, “we did all we could, blame the Supreme Court not us”. Could be. Folks like the Texas AG (elected politician) and Rep. Kelly in PA and others would be doing what they are doing so they don’t get punished by The Base in 2022 when he points to them and says “they failed me, they did not stand up for me”. Which he may anyway because, losers, you failed, you were supposed to win. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/13 "2020-12-09T05:44:34Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Which he may anyway because, losers, you failed, you were supposed to win. The Trump sycophants are always surprised when Trump throws them under the bus. “I didn’t think the leopards would eat MY face” ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/14 "2020-12-09T07:47:42Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction when a state brings suit against another state. This, among other reasons. Those other 40-some suits have a long path to get to the Supreme Court, and few of them have any chance. This suit skips all the lower courts and goes immediately to the Top. Now, I have a legal-ish question: Appellate courts, SCOTUS included, can pick and choose which appeals they will hear. But in a case like this, where SCOTUS is the court of original jurisdiction, do they have the option to choose if they will hear the case or not? Or do they have to hear the case (to the same extent, perhaps, that any trial court would)? Another idea: Paxton is trying to suck up to Trump so he can get all his juicy pardons. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/15 "2020-12-09T08:03:09Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Another idea: Paxton is trying to suck up to Trump so he can get all his juicy pardons. There’s jack Trump can do about the state securities charges, only the Federal ones. And pardons are admissions of guilt - if he’s pardoned for the Federal charges, wouldn’t that make the state ones near-certain wins, since they both relate to Servergy ? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/16 "2020-12-09T08:05:34Z")
I wasn’t sure if he’s charged with state or federal crimes. I’m actually more interested to know if the Supreme Court, acting as a trial court, must take the case. What is Servergy? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/17 "2020-12-09T08:12:02Z")
Servergy, sorry - the tech company that Paxton committed securities-fraud in relation to. Allegedly, I guess I should say, since the state charges are still in court. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/18 "2020-12-09T11:03:20Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Now, I have a legal-ish question: Appellate courts, SCOTUS included, can pick and choose which appeals they will hear. But in a case like this, where SCOTUS is the court of original jurisdiction, do they have the option to choose if they will hear the case or not? Yes, they can decline an original jurisdiction case, and did so recently when Oklahoma and Nebraska tried to directly file a case claiming that Colorado’s marijuana law would have an impact on adjoining states. > **[Supreme Court denies Oklahoma and Nebraska challenge to Colorado pot](https://www.denverpost.com/2016/03/21/supreme-court-denies-oklahoma-and-nebraska-challenge-to-colorado-pot/)** > > Supreme Court denies Oklahoma and Nebraska challenge to Colorado pot ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/19 "2020-12-09T11:14:53Z")
Fort Worth Star Telegram: # AG Paxton once again makes Texas look silly with desperate lawsuit over Trump loss Faux News: # Hannity: Texas election challenge lawsuit ‘could be a game-changer’ at Supreme Court ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614/20 "2020-12-09T11:22:39Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > There’s jack Trump can do about the state securities charges, only the Federal ones. And pardons are admissions of guilt - if he’s pardoned for the Federal charges, wouldn’t that make the state ones near-certain wins, since they both relate to Servergy ? I think the current Texas AG is _extremely_ unlikely to charge Paxton with anything. Just sayin’. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sues-non-trump-voting-states-for-reasons/927614.md?page=2)