Rick Perry's abuse-of-power case officially dismissed, tension between lawyers remains Perry's lead attorney suggested taking action against the prosecutor.

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 29: Former Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks at a rally by Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) at Galley's Dallas the day before Super Tuesday February 29, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. Candidates have spread themselves out over the U.S. in the lead up to Super Tuesday where twelve states will hold primary voting. (Photo by Stewart F. House/Getty Images) less DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 29: Former Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks at a rally by Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) at Galley's Dallas the day before Super Tuesday February 29, 2016 in ... more Photo: Stewart F. House, Stringer / Getty Images Photo: Stewart F. House, Stringer / Getty Images Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Rick Perry's abuse-of-power case officially dismissed, tension between lawyers remains 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Lawyers in the abuse-of-power case against Rick Perry continued to take shots at each other Wednesday as a judge signed an order formally dismissing the indictment against the former governor.

Perry's lead lawyer, Anthony Buzbee, suggested he might take action to hold the appointed prosecutor, Michael McCrum, accountable for what he called an improper pursuit of the case. As he told the Express-News previously, Buzbee said Wednesday he would seek a transcript of grand jury proceedings.

"We feel like Mr. McCrum must have said some things that are probably actionable to that grand jury based on the people that we know testified and the facts as we know them and we're going to explore that," Buzbee told reporters after the hearing at which Judge Bert Richardson signed the dismissal order.

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Buzbee didn't say exactly what action he'd seek but mentioned there are professional responsibility rules for lawyers.

McCrum, of San Antonio, said he acted appropriately and that the law doesn't allow the release of grand jury transcripts because it's important to protect the integrity of the process and ensure evidence is fairly reviewed. He took aim at Buzbee, a prominent Houston trial lawyer with a history of handling high-profile injury cases yielding big awards to clients.

"The law guards the confidentiality of those proceedings very, very much for good reason," McCrum said."Mr. Buzbee should know that. I don't know – he handles snake bite and car wreck cases."

McCrum said he didn't decide against trying to resurrect the case until late Tuesday because he believes Perry committed a crime.

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"We believe that he did. Strongly believe that," McCrum said.

But McCrum said that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, in ordering case dismissed in February, "so muddied the law" that he didn't think it would be the right to try to revive the case.

Perry's legal team defended his actions and Buzbee took issue with "the stuff that came out of his (McCrum's) mouth."

"If the law doesn't support a crime was committed, then you don't prosecute, period. That's how it works," Buzbee sad. "This has all been a colossal waste of time."

The presiding judge in the case, Richardson, said the case "has not been a pleasant experience for me either." He said he felt like a "punching bag."

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"I didn't ask for this job and I didn't want it," he said, pointing out that he was running for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals while presiding over the case.

In an unusual turn. Richardson was elected to the Court of Criminal Appeals while the case was ongoing. He didn't participate in the high court's decision to throw out the indictment since he still was presiding over the case at the trial court level.

The case stems from action that Perry took while governor in 2013. He vetoed state funding for the public integrity unit that was overseen by Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg after she refused to step down following a messy drunken-driving incident.

In making the veto, the Republican then-governor said the Democratic prosecutor had lost the public's confidence.

Texans for Public Justice filed a complaint saying that Perry went too far in trying to use a veto threat to force out Lehmberg. Perry said he acted properly and would do it again.

The complaint led to the 2014 indictment accusing Perry of coercion of a public servant and abuse of official capacity.

The 3rd Court of Appeals last year tossed the coercion charge, saying the law underlying it violated the First Amendment. The Court of Criminal Appeals in February threw out the remaining charge, saying it violated separation of powers, and ordered the indictment dismissed.

The opinion by Presiding Judge Sharon Keller of the Court of Criminal Appeals put Perry's complaint in a special category of claims that can be raised before trial. She said the prosecution of a veto violates the constitutional separation of powers among the branches of government.

pfikac@express-news.net

Twitter: @pfikac