In Houston, a federal judge on Thursday said he will allow Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office to withdraw from representing the office of acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock in a lawsuit over the state’s school voucher program after a dispute between the two officials.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett said he will grant the request once the comptroller secures new legal counsel.
Bennett said he does not want the comptroller’s office to be without representation and noted that an injunction hearing in the case is scheduled for April 24. The lawsuit involves allegations of religious discrimination in the state’s $1 billion school voucher program.
The dispute between the two offices began last week when Hancock sent a letter criticizing the legal strategy used by Paxton’s office in the case. Hancock said the state’s legal filings failed to include information about alleged connections between the Houston Quran Academy and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Paxton responded in a letter accusing Hancock of undermining the state’s defense by disclosing internal communications. He said the release of the letter included statements not presented in court filings and risked violating attorney-client privilege.
Hancock was appointed comptroller by Greg Abbott in June after the previous officeholder left the position. Hancock previously served in the Texas Senate and voted in 2023 to impeach Paxton on charges brought by the state House.
