Texas Supreme Court Rules Democrats Absent From State Capitol Can Be Arrested

Texas State Democrats (L-R) Democratic Chair Rep. Chris Turner (TX-101), Rep. Rafael Anchia (TX-103), Rep. Senfronia Thompson (TX-141), and Rep. Rhetta Bowers (TX-113) at a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on July 13, 2021. More than 60 Texas House Democrats left the state to Washington, DC, to block a voting restrictions bill by denying a Republican quorum. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The Texas Supreme Court ruled on Aug. 17 that the state’s House Democrats can be arrested if they refuse to return to the state Capitol to conduct legislative business.

The opinion (pdf) orders district courts to rescind their temporary restraining orders handed to state Democrats who have broken quorum since last month. In July, 52 state House Democrats absented themselves from legislative business in order to block Republican-led election reforms.