Ken Paxton Wanted to Crack Down on Forum Shopping. Now Lawyers Say He’s Improperly Seeking Out Favorable Courts.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been accused of engaging in forum shopping, a practice he previously criticized. His office has filed lawsuits in counties with weak connections to the cases, including a recent suit against pharmaceutical companies over Tylenol. Legal experts warn that Paxton's arguments could undermine state laws regarding where lawsuits can be filed.
- ▪Paxton's office has pursued at least 30 cases with tenuous connections to the counties where they were filed.
- ▪He previously urged the Supreme Court to limit forum shopping, citing its negative impact on the justice system.
- ▪The recent lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies was filed in Panola County, which has little connection to the case.
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Dominic Bodden for ProPublica and The Texas Tribune Dominic Bodden for ProPublica and The Texas Tribune Ken Paxton Wanted to Crack Down on Forum Shopping. Now Lawyers Say He’s Improperly Seeking Out Favorable Courts. by Zach Despart and Misty Harris, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune Co-published with The Texas Tribune May 20, 2026, 6:00 am {"componentName":"ShareToolsRebrand","props":{"pageTitle":"","pageUrl":"https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-ken-paxton-forum-shopping"},"contextArray":[]} {"componentName":"DarkModeToggleRebrand","props":{},"contextArray":[]} Contrast Change Appearance AutoLightDark ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.
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