Doggett, lawmakers call 'rogue prosecutor' suit against DA Garza Republican interference

Serena Lin, Austin American-Statesman

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Texas House members from Travis County on Monday criticized a recent judicial decision to accept a petition to remove Travis County District Attorney José Garza from office, describing it as a Republican-led effort to undermine local elections.

"The petition was reviewed by a district judge in one of the most Republican counties in the state of Texas, who agreed to appoint another Republican to try to prevent the will of Travis County voters from being realized," Doggett, D-Austin, told reporters during a news conference on the steps of the Capitol.

Democratic state Reps. Donna Howard, Lulu Flores, Vikki Goodwin and Sheryl Cole also spoke. They were joined by Austin Kaplan, an attorney representing Amanda Zurawski, a plaintiff in a case challenging Texas' abortion ban.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin speaks against a state law that aims to rein in "rogue" progressive prosecutors at a news conference Monday at the Capitol. Standing with him are, from left, Travis County state Reps. Donna Howard, Vikki Goodwin and Sheryl Cole.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin speaks against a state law that aims to rein in "rogue" progressive prosecutors at a news conference Monday at the Capitol. Standing with him are, from left, Travis County state Reps. Donna Howard, Vikki Goodwin and Sheryl Cole.

Earlier this month, a petition was filed under Texas House Bill 17, which allows for the removal of a district attorney for "official misconduct" — including declining to prosecute certain criminal offenses. The Texas law took effect Sept. 1 and was part of a movement among state Republicans to rein in "rogue" progressive prosecutors. Last Friday, Dib Waldrip, presiding judge of the 3rd Administrative Judicial Region, assigned Bell County Attorney Jim Nichols to be the prosecuting attorney.

The petition claims that Garza has policies not to pursue certain charges, including abortion and drug possession. The American-Statesman previously reported that the petition was written by Martin Harry, a former Republican candidate for district attorney.

Doggett said that the petition has "no grounds" because it does not point to any actions taken by Garza after Sept. 1, when HB 17 went into effect.

Goodwin, who represents House District 17, said the issue "transcends" the fate of a single elected official and might set a troubling precedent for other elected Democrats. She also called the lawsuit a "financial burden," diverting taxpayer dollars from other county resources.

State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt released a statement on the petition, saying, "Democrats and Republicans alike must not fall in line behind this authoritarian coercion.

"Today it is a Democrat in Travis County, tomorrow it could be a Republican in your county," Eckhardt wrote in the statement posted to X, formerly Twitter.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, center, talks with, from left, state Reps. Lulu Flores, Sheryl Cole, Vikki Goodwin and Donna Howard and attorney Austin Kaplan after they spoke against House Bill 17 at Monday's news conference.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, center, talks with, from left, state Reps. Lulu Flores, Sheryl Cole, Vikki Goodwin and Donna Howard and attorney Austin Kaplan after they spoke against House Bill 17 at Monday's news conference.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Democrats say suit to remove DA Garza is Republican interference

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