Two Houston attorneys appointed to AG Paxton's felony case after Collin County DA’s recusal

[TexasTowelie]

Two longtime Houston defense attorneys have been appointed as special prosecutors to handle any criminal case involving Attorney General Ken Paxton in connection with his admitted securities law violations.

District Judge Scott Becker appointed the pair Tuesday after Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis filed a motion to recuse himself from the case involving Paxton, his longtime friend and business partner.

Lawyers Brian Wice and Kent Schaffer have been named as Collin County Criminal District Attorneys Pro Tem “for the purposes of assisting in the investigation and, if warranted, the prosecution of Ken Paxton for the securities law complaints currently under investigation by the Texas Rangers,” according to the order.

The order leaves open the possibility of appointing others if warranted.

Last year while still a state senator, Paxton admitted violating state securities laws by soliciting clients for an investment firm without a license. He paid a civil fine of $1,000. The Public Integrity Unit, which was asked to investigate Paxton, said late last year that it lacked jurisdiction. It referred the case to Willis and Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk. Hawk has said she won’t pursue it. Recently, a Collin County grand juror sought more information about the matter from the Public Integrity Unit.

Read more: http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2015/04/two-houston-attorneys-appointed-to-paxton-case-after-collin-das-recusal.html/

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[Gothmog]

1. Wice and Schaffer are both good attorneys

Wice did the appellant work for DeLay and got him off on the theory that the Texas money laundering law only applies to cash and not checks