... the appearance that the judges are implying that not only may the fines be "moot," ...Maybe I'm misreading their comment as reported, but it seems to me they were avoiding the issue ? It sounds to me like they were saying that the 'RATS and GOP would work it out [as they should] in the future and thus would keep the court out of actually having to decide an internal Legislative matter/process.
For reasons discussed at the hearing, neither the facts nor the law on the issue of threatened monetary sanctions are sufficiently developed at this point to permit an informed decision. Moreover, it is possible that future developments could also moot this issue."
The Texas Senate has levied fines against the Renegade 'RATS, but the fines have not been collected [threatened monetary sanctions [not] sufficiently developed]. Hypothetically, then, if the Senate withdraws the sanctions and the redistricting goes through and passes court muster, etc., then the issue is moot and will not need a ruling ...
I'm not saying that the GOP Senate should withdraw the fines [I'm all for the 'RATS payin' for it out of THEIR OWN POCKETS!!], only that the judges don't have anything to rule on at this point. If the GOP actually prohibits the 'RATS from actually voting on the Senate floor for not having paid the fine, AND the 'RATS press the issue back to the court, THEN the court's decision would be required.