Texas Supreme Court Orders Gene Wu to Respond to Abbott Lawsuit by Friday

What We Know

The Supreme Court of Texas has officially requested that Rep. Gene Wu respond to a high-profile lawsuit filed by Governor Greg Abbott, who is seeking Wu’s removal from office through a writ of quo warranto. The court’s order, dated August 5, 2025, instructs Wu to submit his response by 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 8, via the state’s electronic filing system.

The legal petition, filed by Abbott earlier this week, accuses Wu and other Democratic lawmakers of abandoning their legislative responsibilities when they left the Capitol to break quorum during a heated 2025 session. Abbott’s filing claims this not only disrupted the House’s ability to conduct business but also potentially violated state bribery laws due to alleged benefits accepted in connection with the walkout.

In the official letter addressed to Wu and other involved parties, the Supreme Court made no mention of an immediate hearing or decision timeline. The case is being processed under the style “In Re Greg Abbott, in His Official Capacity as Governor of the State of Texas.”

Abbott’s team distributed the petition through email, and his office also posted a public notice on social media. In the petition, Wu is accused of acting as a “ringleader” in organizing the protest that prevented the Texas House from establishing quorum.

What They’re Saying

In a statement released Tuesday, Governor Abbott said the lawsuit follows through on his prior warnings:

Abbott reiterated those sentiments publicly on X (formerly Twitter), linking to the filing and calling for accountability.

In response, Rep. Gene Wu — who currently serves as Minority Leader — issued a sharp rebuke:

The political tensions around quorum-breaking maneuvers are not new in Texas, but this case marks one of the most aggressive legal challenges by a sitting governor against an elected legislator. If the court accepts Abbott’s petition, it could set a dramatic precedent on how legislative absences are punished under state law.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott and State Representative Gene Wu are at the center of a legal battle over quorum-breaking protests.

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