Texas Supreme Court Justices Took More Than $2 Million From Lawyers Tied To British Petroleum Appeal
As the Texas Supreme Court considers an appeal by British Petroleum asking it to reverse a lower court’s order directing the company’s kinghted former CEO to tell plaintiffs what he knows about the 2005 BP refinery explosion in Texas City–which killed 15 workers, watchdog group Texans for Public Justice has revealed that justices on the state’s highest civil appeals court have taken more than $2 million in campaign contributions from attorneys tied to BP’s case:
Though just nine pages long, this brief carries unusual heft with the nine justices. Since 2001 they have taken $1.7 million from the trade groups, affiliated companies and law firm that filed it. When combined with the $307,612 that the justices have taken from defendants and defense attorneys in the BP case, Lord Browne’s briefs come before the court stuffed with $2 million.
Here is how that breaks down:
| Justice |
BP-Linked |
BP-Linked |
Justices’ |
| Don Willett |
$475,369 |
27% |
2006 |
| Wallace Jefferson |
*$441,811 |
27% |
2002; 2006 |
| Jesse Wainwright |
$349,444 |
31% |
2002 |
| Phil Johnson |
$164,200 |
33% |
2006 |
| Paul Green |
$161,350 |
16% |
2004 |
| Scott Brister |
$156,400 |
29% |
2004 |
| David Medina |
$152,275 |
33% |
2006 |
| Harriet O’Neill |
$64,850 |
23% |
2004 |
| Nathan Hecht |
$59,000 |
32% |
2006 |
| TOTALS |
$2,024,699 |
27% |
|
Note: Justice O’Neill has recused herself from the BP case.
*Includes $350 from the Holman Firm, which represents BP plaintiffs.
Breakdown of the Campaign Funds
Shadowing Lord Browne’s Case
| Connection To BP Case |
Affiliated |
| Defendants |
$1,100 |
| Defense Attorneys |
$306,512 |
| Plaintiff Attorneys |
$350 |
| Friend-of-Court Parties1 |
$1,586,548 |
| Friend-of-Court Attorneys |
$130,189 |
|
TOTAL: |
$2,024,699 |
Source: Texans for Public Justice
from Texas Ethics Commission filings.
Written by Vince Leibowitz
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