A Hecht Of A Trial

Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht, who earlier this year received a public admonition for his vocal support of Harrier Miers’ nomination tot he U.S. Supreme Court from the Texas Judicial Conduct Commission, will appear before a special tribunal to appeal the commission’s decision next week in Fort Worth.

A star-studded cast is expected to be on hand for Hecht’s trial including Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips, Fifth Court of Appeals Judge and ex-Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen and, of course, Harriet Miers.

The Star-Telegram’s Max Baker has more:

The commission accused him of improperly using his judicial office to promote Miers’ candidacy by telling White House staff to send media inquiries about his former law partner to him.In about 120 newspaper, radio and television interviews, Hecht discussed Miers’ qualifications as well as her religious background and views on abortion, the commission found. Texas judicial conduct rules prohibit judges from lending the prestige of their office to boost the private interests of themselves or others. Judges are also not allowed to endorse candidates for office.

Hecht’s support of Miers became moot when she withdrew her name from consideration after conservative groups questioned her qualifications for the job. Eventually, Samuel Alito was confirmed to the Supreme Court.

To remove the blemish from his record, Hecht has hired prestigious Dallas lawyer Chip Babcock, who will argue, among other things, that the commission’s actions violates Hecht’s First Amendment rights to free speech.

I’ve got news for Babcock and Hecht: the admonition isn’t going to be reversed. The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct’s rules are pretty straight-forward when it comes to this type of thing, and this type of blatant advocacy is not necessarily becoming of a judge.