Texas Supreme Court Allows Abbott, Paxton Withholding Jan. 6, Uvalde Records

The Texas Supreme Court ruled that Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are not required to release communications related to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and the 2022 Uvalde school shooting to the watchdog group American Oversight. The court determined that only the Texas Supreme Court has the authority to review executive officials' compliance with the state’s Public Information Act, effectively exempting Abbott from such disclosure and limiting lower courts' jurisdiction in these matters. Abbott and Paxton argued that some records were protected due to confidentiality with attorneys and that their compliance was sufficient by responding to the requests. The ruling reversed lower court decisions that had compelled disclosure, underscoring that expanding public access remedies is a matter for the legislature, not the courts. Paxton, who spoke at the Jan. 6 rally supporting President Trump, has not disclosed the source of his travel funds or related communications. The decision narrows legal options for challenging Texas officials under open records laws concerning sensitive and high-profile events.