AUSTIN — A Travis County judge on Friday awarded nearly $6.7 million to four whistleblowers who reported Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to law enforcement in 2020 for alleged criminal conduct.

“The Court finds that Plaintiffs have proved liability, damages, and reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees by a preponderance of the evidence,” District Court Judge Catherine Mauzy wrote. “Because the Office of the Attorney General violated the Texas Whistleblower Act by firing and otherwise retaliating against the Plaintiffs for in good faith reporting violations of law by Ken Paxton and OAG, the Court hereby renders judgment for Plaintiffs.”

In a statement, Paxton said he would appeal the ruling.

The sum is more than double the $3.3 million Paxton’s office agreed to pay in a 2023 settlement the Legislature declined to fund during that session. Lawmakers also would need to approve funding for the state to satisfy this judgment.

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Tom Nesbitt, an attorney representing one of the whistleblowers, called on the Legislature to “do the honorable thing and fund the judgment so these brave public servants can be compensated for the lost pay and damages they suffered when Paxton illegally terminated their employment.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick declined Thursday to say whether the Legislature should fund a judgment this session....

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