State Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht was fined $29,000 Thursday for taking an illegal political contribution and then failing to report it, the Dallas Morning News reports.


The Texas Ethics Commission punished Hecht for accepting a $168,000 discount in legal fees, which is more than five times the legal limit for a contribution from a law firm, and for then failing to disclose the contribution.

From the story:

In a public hearing before the Texas Ethics Commission, Justice Hecht rigorously denied the accusation that a reduced rate he received on a legal bill –- stemming from his defense of an earlier ethical question –- was a gift of services that amounted to a political contribution.

The commission ruled that it was a contribution to his campaign, that it exceeded legal limits on what judges can accept and that he failed to disclose the donation on his state reports.

Hecht is considering appealing the decision, the DMN reports.

More background in this earlier post.


The group Texas Watch, which brought the complaint against Hecht, is not associated with this Web site, Texas Watchdog.