FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Heyward Smith -- 904-662-1514;
hsmith@evergladeslegal.org
June 2, 2009

EVERGLADES LEGAL FOUNDATION FILES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING CONSTITUTIONALITY OF TEXAS PUBLIC INTEGRITY UNIT

Complaint Demonstrates Disenfranchisement of Non-Travis County Voters by Questionable Political Office

(DALLAS) -- The Everglades Legal Foundation (www.evergladeslegal.org), after numerous Open Records requests ignored by the Texas Public Integrity Unit (TPIU), has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality and standing of the TPIU as said office is currently funded by the Texas Legislature. The lawsuit, filed in Dallas on behalf of plaintiff Cathie Adams, a Texas resident, makes a strong case that the TPIU as currently constituted violates both the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the Texas Constitution.

"The Texas Public Integrity Unit should, at minimum, be moved out of Travis County and under the oversight of the Texas Attorney General's Office for purposes of constitutionality and adequate checks and balances," Adams said. "Beyond this, the TPIU has pursued questionable cases historically, some of which after years in the system haven't been brought to trial and others which seemed highly political with scant evidence. This presents the appearance of a political organization unconstitutionally funded by millions of Texas taxpayer dollars where prosecutors can essentially run amok without consequence."

Everglades Legal Foundation Executive Director Heyward Smith echoed Adams' sentiments.

"We have studied the efforts and effects of the TPIU over many months," Smith said. "There have been clear abuses of power in the TPIU, to the point where one could reasonably argue that certain prosecutors essentially traded dismissals of indictments for millions of dollars in donations to their pet causes, possibly to later enrich themselves." Smith continued, "This lawsuit should be a wake-up call to all Texans that their tax dollars are funding an office which arrogantly does not respond to citizen Open Records requests, which can prosecute them but doesn't represent them, and which should be disbanded as an entity before greater unethical practices take place. We look forward to our day in court on this matter."

To reach Everglades Legal Foundation Executive Director Heyward Smith, please call 904-662-1514.

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