So, somewhat astonishingly, Paxton went to a district court in Llano County (Burnet), where one of the whistleblowers lives, and got a TRO against the whistleblower suit proceeding.
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/07/ken-paxton-whistleblower/
A bit of broader context. A TRO is granted on a sworn application, often without the judge hearing from the opponent. In the past, I have told clients and people that a Texas state judge would issue a TRO against the earth revolving around the sun if someone would file a sworn affidavit and post a bond. In Texas, a TRO lasts a maximum of 14 days (unless extended by agreement of the parties) and an adversarial hearing is to be conducted in that time to decide whether to maintain or dissolve a TRO.
I don't and never have done too much in state courts, but trade-secrets and covenants-not-to-compete were one of those things, and those usually involve TROs. It is my sense, however, that Texas judges have wised up a bit and aren't as free with TROs as they were, say 25 years ago.
So, in that context, where TROs can be granted restraining damn near anything because it only lasts two weeks, This is still astonishing.
Enjoining a litigation in another court is fairly extraordinary in and of itself (got problems, take em up with the court you're already in). Moreover, the ground for the TRO is that the whistleblowers are in violation of the Settlement Agreement that resulted in the $3M settlement that the lege refused to pay. It's my understanding that that settlement was contingent upon the lege approving the funds. No less authority than the Texas Supreme Court has already sent the case back to the trial court for further litigation after the settlement wasn't consummated. Presumably, that includes a determination that the whistleblowers are entitled to ignore the settlement agreement because the lege didn't pay.
This was a "forum shop" but legit as they go because one of the whistleblowers apparently lives in Llano County. But it underscores what a clown show Texas courts can be. The variation in quality of judges is mind-blowing. This I attribute to judicial elections.