Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht Charged with New Ethics Violation
jonathanturley
Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht was required to appear before the Texas Ethics Commission on a new ethics charge: that a substantial discount given to him by a Texas firm resulted in a violation of campaign finance laws. Hecht had raked up $440,000 in legal fees in defending himself against charges that he violated judicial ethics when he advocated the selection of Harriet Miers for the United States Supreme Court.
Judicial officers are prohibited from endorsing candidates for political office and Hecht was found guilty for his work on behalf of Miers. He eventually got the sanction lifted but was stuck with the heavy bill. Attorney Chip Babcock and his firm, Jackson Walker, however, gave him a roughly $100,000 discount which is now getting him in renewed trouble.
