Burrows and Paxton filed their lawsuit in Illinois westernmost county, which recorded a 47 percent vote for Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election. This was some distance from DuPage County, the Chicago suburb and Democratic stronghold where The Texas Tribune reports the Democratic lawmakers are staying.

The judge says he doesn't have the power to decide whether the Democrats were violating civil warrants issued by the Texas House.

An Adams County judge ruled his court “does not have the inherent power to direct Illinois law enforcement officers” to round up the Texas lawmakers.