Texas Supreme Court Justice Faces Fine For Illegal Political Contribution

December 4, 2008 10:17 p.m. EST

Austin, TX (AHN) - The Texas Ethics Commission has ordered Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht to pay a $29,000 fine for receiving political contributions beyond the limit allowed by law and not reporting it.

The commission ruled that the discount on legal services given by the Jackson Walker law firm and its lawyer Chip Babcock to Hecht constitute an illegal political contribution and should have been reported to the public.

The law firm and Babcock had billed Hecht more than $400,000 for defending the justice against the Commission on Judicial Conduct in a 2006 case. Hecht paid only $342,416 using his political fund and argued it was legal.

Hecht said he will appeal the decision of the commission.