SPRINGFIELD — A downstate judge has rejected Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit seeking an order for Illinois law enforcement to arrest and return to the Lone Star state Democratic legislators who are staying in Illinois in order to prevent a controversial vote to remap congressional districts as requested by President Donald Trump.

Adams County Judge Scott Larson ruled Wednesday that the Illinois circuit court “does not have the inherent power to initiate, consider and determine” whether the Texas Democrats are in Illinois “for the purpose of willfully evading” warrants issued by Paxton.

Dozens of Texas Democrats have taken refuge in Illinois this month with the support of Gov. JB Pritzker to deny Republicans a quorum needed during its special legislative session to approve new

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