Press Release/Texas BODA

FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

TEXASSTATEBARORDEREDTOCONTINUEDISCIPLINARYPROCEEDINGS

AGAINSTTEXASATTORNEYGENERALKENPAXTON

(HOUSTON,TX,February10,2016)--TheLawOfficeofMynorE.RodriguezP.C.announcedthattheBoardofDisciplinaryAppeals("BODA")hasorderedtheStateBarofTexastopursuedisciplinaryproceedingsagainstbeleagueredTexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton.(SeeattachedBODAletterdatedFebruary2,2016.)HundredsofTexasattorneysjoinedinanethicscomplaintagainstMr.PaxtonwhenhedefiedtheU.S.SupremeCourtinthewakeofthehighcourt'srecognitionofsame-sexmarriage.TheComplaintalleges,amongmanyotherethicalviolations,thatMr.PaxtonillegallyencouragedTexasstateofficialstoviolatetheU.S.Constitutionaswellastheiroathsofofficebyrefusingtoissuesame-sexmarriagelicenses.Mr.Rodrigueznoted,"TheTexasethicsrulesprohibitanylawyer,includingtheAttorneyGeneral,fromcounselingaclienttoengageinconductthatthelawyerknowsiscriminalorfraudulent."Mr.PaxtonisnowrequiredtorespondtothefullComplaintofprofessionalmisconduct.ThisisthesecondsetbackforAttorneyGeneralPaxton.Earlythismonth,theTexasEthicsCommissionrefusedtoapproveanopinionthatwouldhaveallowedPaxtontoacceptout-of-statedonationsforhislegalfees.SeeaPDFoftheComplaintathttp://bit.ly/PaxtonComplaint.

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Contact:EddieRodriguezLawOfficeofMynorE.RodriguezP.C.713-968-9828telmrodriguez@rodrigueztrialfirm.comwww.rodrigueztrialfirm.com

C H A I RD A V I D N . K I T N E R

V I C E C H A I RR A M O N L E C H E VA R R I A I I

M E M B E R SR O B E R T A . B L A C K

JEANNE C. "CEZr COLLINSD A V I D M . G O N Z A L E ZW E N D Y A D E L E H U M P H R E Y

ROLAND K. JOHNSONK A T H E R I N E A . K I N S E R

JOHN J. "MIKE" McKETTA IIIM I K E M I L L SD E B O R A H P U L L U MG E O R G E A . TAY L O R

Steve Fischer139 Ocean Dr.

Rockport, TX 78382

E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R & G E N E R A L C O U N S E L

C H R I S T I N E E . M c K E E M A N

D E P U T Y D I R E C T O R / C O U N S E L

G AY L E R I L E Y V I C K E R S

T h e B o a r d o f D i s c i p l i n a r y A p p e a l sA p p o i n t e d b y T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t o f Te x a s

E X E C U T I V E A S S I S TA N T

JACKIE L. TRUITT

February 2, 2016

Ruth Ann Ko l lman4265 San Felipe St., Ste. 1100Houston, TX 77027

Br ian Bou f fa rd909 W. Magnolia, Ste. 6F o r t W o r t h , T X 7 6 1 0 4 _ ^

R E : B O D A C a s e N o . 5 6 6 9 6

Disposition of Appeal NoticeFischer, Kollman, & Bouffard v. Paxton (SBOT # 201504443)

Dear Mr. Fischer, Ms. Kollman and Mr. Bouffard:

On January 29, 2016, the Board of Disciplinary Appeals appointed by the Supreme Court of Texasconsidered the appeal from the dismissal of the above grievance by the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel ofthe State Bar of Texas. After reviewing the grievance as filed with the State Bar Chief Disciplinary Counsel's officeand no other information, the Board grants the appeal, finding that the grievance alleges a possible violation ofTexas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.02(c) (see, Texas Family Code § 2.012. (West 2015)).

The Board of Disciplinary Appeals will now return the case to the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counselfor investigation and a determination whether there is just cause to believe that the attorney has committedprofessional misconduct. The Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel will notify both parties of each step of theprocess, including asking the attorney to respond to the complaint. For information concerning the handling of thecase fi-om this point forward, please contact the Austin Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

Information concerning the disciplinary system, the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, andthe Texas Rules of Disciplinaiy Procedure is available at www.texasbar.com. The Board's Internal Procedural Rulesare available at www.txboda.org.

Sincerely,

Chr is t ine E. McKeemanExecutive Director & General Counsel

Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr.

Laura PoppsState Bar of TexasPO Box 13287Austin, TX 78711(512) 427-1350

POST OFFICE BOX 12426 AUSTIN. TEXAS 78711 TEL: (512) 427-1578 FAX; (512) 427-4130 TXBODA.ORG