[JURIST] A Texas state judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss [order] criminal charges against former governor Rick Perry [personal website]. The charges came after Perry threatened to veto $7.5 million dollars in funds if Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg did not resign her position after an arrest for driving under the influence. Perry’s lawyers argued that the charges violate his First Amendment right to free speech, but the judge agreed with prosecutors [USA Today report] that the case should be heard before a jury.

A Travis county grand jury indicted [JURIST report] Perry on two felony charges for abuse of power in August. Perry pleaded [JURIST report] not guilty to the charges. Perry was also a controversial figure while in office. In July 2013 he signed into law [JURIST report] House Bill 2 [text], which enacted three new restrictions on the practice of abortion. Also in 2013 Perry vetoed [JURIST report] a bill [HB 950 text] intended to prevent payment discrimination and make it easier for women to obtain equal pay.