(December 4, 2008)--The Texas Ethics Commission fined state Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht $29,000 Friday after determining he broke campaign finance laws.

Panel members decided Hecht accepted and failed to report an excessive political contribution from a law firm.

Hecht said he's disappointed with the ruling and might file a court appeal.

He accumulated the legal fees in his successful fight against allegations that he abused his position by openly supporting Harriet Miers of Dallas for a U.S. Supreme Court seat.

Miers was an adviser to President George W. Bush who later withdrew from seeking a place on the high court.

At issue is an estimated $168,000 discount that Hecht received from Chip Babcock and his law firm, Jackson Walker.

Hecht says the discount was legal and proper, but investigators found the reduction was a campaign contribution that violated finance limits.

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