Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is unlikely to know until spring whether an appeals court will throw out criminal charges that accuse the state's top prosecutor of defrauding wealthy investors.
Lawyers for Paxton have until late February to make their case to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas. The judge who would oversee Paxton's trial has already refused to dismiss the felony indictments, which carry a possible prison sentence if the Republican is convicted.
Paxton has pleaded not guilty and says he won't step down. His lawyers this month confirmed that a grand jury is also investigating more possible wrongdoing by Paxton over his profiting from a land deal.
Paxton was indicted on securities fraud charges just six months into taking office last year.
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