Illegal Order of Incompetent Judge in Texas Has Been Challenged By Attorney General
The ruling issued by El Paso County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego for a two-week forced quarantine and re-closure of non-essential businesses has been challenged by Attorney General Ken Paxton.
"Since the inception of this pandemic, El Paso County has never seen this level of infections through our community," he said at Thursday's news conference. "Our hospitals are at capacity, our medical professionals are overwhelmed, and if we don't respond we will see unprecedented levels of deaths."
The El Paso Police Department refused to comply with the illegal orders of Judge Samaniego.
Samaniego does not have the authority to order a shutdown. Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent executive order on reopening the economy, GA-32, “explicitly preempts all contradictory local orders,” Paxton stated.
El Paso County Judge Samaniego has no authority to shut down businesses in El Paso County. This is a direct violation of @GovAbbott’s executive order.
— Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) October 30, 2020
My office is quickly exploring all legal actions.
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo explained in a series of tweets why the judge was wrong.
2/ The Judge did not consult me and refuses to return my call, so I am seeking clarification from the Attorney General on the new County order, which does not supersede the Governor’s orders.
— Mayor Dee Margo (@mayor_margo) October 30, 2020
3/ What I can speak to is the hurt our community is going through. We must strike a balance of keeping our neighbors safe while not destroying people’s abilities to feed their families. #MayorMargo pic.twitter.com/keegO1e4Ub
— Mayor Dee Margo (@mayor_margo) October 30, 2020