The Texas Supreme Court has issued an order halting the depositions that were scheduled to begin on Thursday in the whistleblower case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The all-GOP court made the decision public just hours after former President Donald Trump called on the court to end the case.

In 2020, four former top deputies filed a whistleblower lawsuit accusing Paxton of improperly firing them after they reported him to the FBI for allegedly abusing his office to assist a wealthy friend and donor. These claims formed the basis for Paxton's impeachment by the Texas House last year, although he was eventually acquitted by the Senate in September.

Earlier this month, a district court judge in Travis County had ordered Paxton and three top aides to sit for depositions, starting on Thursday. However, Paxton's office appealed the order to the Supreme Court, requesting that the depositions be put on hold. The court's order staying the depositions allows the parties until February 29 to present their broader legal arguments.

In a surprising move, Paxton recently announced that he would no longer contest the facts of the case and would accept any judgment. However, the whistleblowers have persisted in seeking the depositions of Paxton and his three aides, Michelle Smith, Brent Webster, and Lesley French Henneke.

Both sides are scheduled to appear in Travis County district court on Wednesday for a hearing on Paxton's motion for the judge to enter judgment. The Supreme Court's decision on the depositions came after pressure from Trump and his allies, who urged the court to support Paxton.

The Supreme Court did not provide an explanation for its ruling, but it was revealed that Justice Evan Young did not participate in the decision-making.

The case against Paxton has attracted significant attention, and it remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold. The whistleblowers are determined to seek justice, while Paxton and his allies continue to fight back against the allegations.

Texans eagerly await further developments in this high-profile case, as the controversy surrounding Attorney General Ken Paxton continues to capture headlines.