[MikeWaters]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....bf9a942a.html

Mr. Perry is the biggest political campaign contributor in the state, giving millions of dollars to state and national candidates. He has contributed more than $340,000 to all nine Supreme Court justices, either directly or through political action committees.

Mr. Perry’s contributions to members of the court included $16,000 to help Justice Nathan Hecht pay his legal bills a year ago as the court was preparing to hear arguments in the homebuilder’s case.

Mr. Hecht solicited donors to pay the cost of defending himself against charges of violating judicial ethics.

The state's judicial-conduct panel had admonished the justice for using his office to promote the failed nomination of Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court. The sanction was subsequently overturned, but Justice Hecht owed $340,000 to his lawyers.

Mr. Hecht was among five justices who ruled in the majority. The other four justices concurred in part and dissented in part with the opinion.