The Texas Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked a deposition meant to identify the people or group behind the Texas Transgender Student Union. The union mailed pamphlets in mid-October. A Travis County district judge had ordered the deposition earlier in the week. Lawyers for the student union objected, and the high court blocked the order 15 minutes before questioning was set to begin. The court did not explain its reasons.
Mimi Marziani, a lawyer for the Transgender Education Network of Texas, said the group wants to learn who organized the student union before an expected lawsuit. She said the group is cooperating with a forgery investigation opened last week by West Texas District Attorney Sarah Stogner. Stogner said the pamphlets appeared designed to motivate conservative voters ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Text messages sent earlier referenced the same group's website. A deposition ordered earlier revealed the texts were sent on behalf of the Republican Women's Caucus Fund and an individual named John Braun. The caucus fund denied involvement, as did a Washington state senator named John Braun, according to statements. Marziani said there is no evidence yet linking the texts and mailers. The group has until 10 a.m. Monday to respond to the emergency motion, according to the court's order.