Texas Attorney General Defends State’s Red River Boundary Against Oklahoma Claim

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has successfully defended the state’s border against a claim by an Oklahoma property owner who attempted to assert ownership of Texas land along the Red River. The legal challenge centered on a dispute over the river’s shifting course and its impact on the Texas-Oklahoma boundary.

The Dispute and the Lawsuit

In August 2025, an Oklahoma landowner filed a lawsuit in Oklahoma state court seeking to establish ownership of land within Texas, arguing that changes to the lower bank of the Red River had altered the state border. The lawsuit sought to “quiet title,” legally establishing the owner’s claim to the disputed land. The claim relied on a 1923 U.S. Supreme Court opinion identifying the Texas-Oklahoma border as the lower bank of the Red River.

Texas’s Defense and the Red River Compact

Attorney General Paxton intervened to defend Texas, arguing that the boundary between the two states was definitively established by the 1999 Red River Boundary Compact. This agreement, approved by Congress in 2000, superseded the earlier Supreme Court opinion. The Texas Department of Transportation also assisted in the legal defense, utilizing outside counsel for out-of-state pleadings.

Sovereign Immunity and Dismissal of the Case

Paxton argued that the Oklahoma property owner lacked the standing to sue Texas in Oklahoma court without the state’s consent, invoking the principle of sovereign immunity. He further contended that the lawsuit was based on an incorrect understanding of the legal authority governing the border. The court granted the motion to dismiss, removing the State of Texas from the lawsuit.

Paxton’s Response

“The full force of the law will come crashing down on anyone trying to seize Texas land. I will always defend our state’s sovereignty and will not allow erroneous theories to undermine Texas’s land ownership,” said Attorney General Paxton in a statement. He jokingly referenced the “Red River Rivalry” between Texas and Oklahoma in football, stating he would not allow the term to apply to unlawful land claims in court.

Recent Actions by Attorney General Paxton

This successful defense of the state’s land is the latest in a series of legal actions taken by Attorney General Paxton. In May 2025, Paxton secured a $60 million judgment against David Polston’s companies for illegal dumping into a tributary of the Colorado River, protecting the state’s environment. Hoodline reports that the dumping led to wildlife deaths and ecosystem damage.

Ken Paxton’s Career

Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. Has served as the Attorney General of Texas since 2015. Prior to this role, he served in the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives. Wikipedia notes that Paxton was first elected as a supporter of the Tea Party movement and has been re-elected in 2018 and 2022. He is known for his conservative views and has been a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump. PublicNow and X reported on this case.