As special prosecutors prepare to go to a grand jury with an investigation against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, he has hired a well-known criminal defense attorney to represent him.

Joe Kendall, a former federal judge, will be Paxton's lawyer in the case that alleges that Paxton violated securities laws. The AG is also getting legal advice from other high-profile Dallas lawyers: Jones Day partner Matt Orwig and Bob Webster, partner in Fitzpatrick Hagood Smith & Uhl.

“I was hired to look into the matter this week, and I'm starting to do so,” said Kendall, managing partner in The Kendall Law Group in Dallas. “I'm getting my arms wrapped around this case and getting documents.”