Completing his fourth six-year term, Justice Nathan Hecht is the senior member of the Texas Supreme Court and arguably its most conservative one in terms of leaning toward business interests and being skeptical of large jury verdicts.
Hecht, a Republican, showed dubious judgment in the way he advocated for the doomed 2005 U.S. Supreme Court nomination of his friend Harriet Miers. A public reprimand from the Commission on Judicial Conduct over that episode was vacated. Yet unresolved is his appeal of a $29,000 fine that the Texas Ethics Commission levied, saying Hecht should have reported discounted legal fees stemming from the ethics case as a campaign contribution.When big law firms and other donors that typically give big bucks to Texas Supreme Court candidates helped pay Hecht's legal fees, it highlighted one of the ugly and dangerous realities of Texas' partisan judicial elections: that law firms and political action committees give big bucks to Supreme Court candidates.Democrat Michele Petty, 51, a San Antonio lawyer who's board certified in civil trial law, says members of the all-Republican court are being influenced by their large campaign donations to slant the law toward business interests. That's a hard accusation to prove.Having represented clients in cases involving such areas as workers compensation, personal injury, torts and negligence, she would bring a different perspective to the nine-member court.Hecht's long experience and advocacy to improve legal services for the poor give him an edge.Libertarian Mark Ash and Green Party candidate Jim Chisholm also are running.The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends Nathan Hecht for Texas Supreme Court Place 6.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
