AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The state of Texas plans to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that the state’s foster care system for nearly 30,000 children is unconstitutionally broken.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office last week filed a notice of appeal and asked the judge to delay her ruling so it could present its case before a higher court.
U.S. District Judge Janis Jack ordered sweeping changes that include reducing “impossible” workloads for caseworkers, and halting placing kids in group homes that lack round-the-clock supervision.
Paxton’s office said the ruling improperly condemned the entire system, was too broad and “virtually impossible to follow.”
The ruling stems from a 2011 class-action lawsuit by the New York-based advocacy group Children’s Rights.
The group accused Texas of mismanagement, understaffing and putting kids at risk for abuse.