Supreme Court Rejects Texas Lawsuit

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a suit brought by the Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton against four states key to President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in November.

Paxton planned to sue Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia before the Supreme Court, asking the court to invalidate the results of the presidential election and turn the selection of electors over to state legislatures.

Paxton alleged that election officials did not follow state election law. Specifically, he went after absentee ballots, alleging, among other things, that ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin were illegal.

He filed a motion Monday to have the case heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. The court denied this motion for lack of standing. The court said Texas, as represented by Paxton had not “demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections. All other pending motions are dismissed as moot.”

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said on MSNBC, “This decision is a victory for democracy and the rule of law.”

Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas in his dissent, said the court did not have the discretion to deny a bill of complaint that falls within their jurisdiction. “I would therefore grant the motion to file the bill of complaint but would not grant other relief, and I express no view on any other issue.”

Paxton was joined in the lawsuit by the attorneys general from 17 states, and more than 100 House Republicans.

Read the court’s decision here.