Nathan Hecht
Encyclopedia
Nathan L. Hecht is a Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
. Hecht, a Republican
, was elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1988 and reelected in 1994, 2000, and 2006. With over 18 years of service, Hecht is currently the most senior Justice of the Court. He was re-elected to a fourth six-year term on November 7, 2006. His term ends on December 31, 2012.
with honors in philosophy and graduated cum laude from the Southern Methodist University
School of Law
. He was a law clerk to Judge Roger Robb
of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
. He also served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He practiced law in the area of general litigation with the Dallas
firm of Locke Purnell Boren Laney & Neely, and was a shareholder in that firm prior to his appointment to the bench.
While on the District Court, Justice Hecht was local administrative judge, presiding over all county and district judges in Dallas county and representing them before other branches of government.
He began his judicial service on the 95th District Court of Dallas County, to which he was appointed on September 1, 1981, elected in 1982, and re-elected in 1984. In 1986, he was elected to the Texas Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas, where he served until his election to the Supreme Court. Throughout his tenure on the Supreme Court, Justice Hecht has been designated to oversee all changes in state court rules.
to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Hecht became nationally known as a strong supporter of White House Counsel
Miers
based upon his long friendship with her. According to Hecht, he and Miers dated in the past and were members of the same born-again Christian church. Hecht gave 120 interviews in support of the eventually-unsuccessful nomination.
The New York Times has reported that, on the day of Miers' nomination, Hecht participated in a conference call with the Arlington Group
, a coalition of Christian Conservatives, assuring them of her pro-life
views.
In May 2006 Hecht was admonished by the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct for "an improper use of his office and position to promote Miers's private interest" during the nomination; a three-judge panel exonerated Hecht of the charge after he appealed the decision.
In March 2007 Hecht said that he had asked Texas representative Tony Goolsby to propose a bill that would make the state reimburse his $340,000 legal fees, which his lawyers had discounted by $167,500. Goolsby withdrew the bill after learning that Hecht had already been reimbursed for the bill through "donations." Hecht defended his position by saying, “Here is the problem: If judges are sanctioned like this and it’s unjust and it’s wrong and they want to prove it, they can represent themselves or hire a lawyer that you can’t pay for on a judge’s salary.” He is paid $152,500. In December 2008, he was fined $29,000 by the Texas Ethics Commission in connection with the discount, which the Commission ruled was an improper political contribution.
, a member of the Texas Philosophical Society, and a fellow of the Texas and American Bar Foundations. He is on the advisory board of the S.M.U. Law Review and was named Outstanding Young Lawyer in 1984 by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers. He also has played organ for his church.
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
. Hecht, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, was elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1988 and reelected in 1994, 2000, and 2006. With over 18 years of service, Hecht is currently the most senior Justice of the Court. He was re-elected to a fourth six-year term on November 7, 2006. His term ends on December 31, 2012.
Background
Justice Hecht earned his B.A. at Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
with honors in philosophy and graduated cum laude from the Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
School of Law
Dedman School of Law
The Southern Methodist University School of Law, commonly referred to as SMU Law School or Dedman School of Law is a prominent professional graduate law school located in Dallas, Texas. Founded in February 1925, the school remains the only law school in Dallas...
. He was a law clerk to Judge Roger Robb
Roger Robb
Roger Robb was a United States federal judge and trial attorney, who prosecuted J. Robert Oppenheimer in a celebrated Atomic Energy Commission hearing in 1954....
of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
. He also served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He practiced law in the area of general litigation with the Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
firm of Locke Purnell Boren Laney & Neely, and was a shareholder in that firm prior to his appointment to the bench.
While on the District Court, Justice Hecht was local administrative judge, presiding over all county and district judges in Dallas county and representing them before other branches of government.
He began his judicial service on the 95th District Court of Dallas County, to which he was appointed on September 1, 1981, elected in 1982, and re-elected in 1984. In 1986, he was elected to the Texas Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas, where he served until his election to the Supreme Court. Throughout his tenure on the Supreme Court, Justice Hecht has been designated to oversee all changes in state court rules.
Miers controversy and aftermath
In the days after the October 3, 2005, nomination of Harriet MiersHarriet Miers Supreme Court nomination
On October 3, 2005, Harriet Miers was nominated for Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by President George W. Bush to replace retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor...
to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Hecht became nationally known as a strong supporter of White House Counsel
White House Counsel
The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States.-Role:The Counsel's role is to advise the President on all legal issues concerning the President and the White House...
Miers
Harriet Miers
Harriet Ellan Miers is an American lawyer and former White House Counsel. In 2005, she was nominated by President George W. Bush to be an Associate Justice of the U.S...
based upon his long friendship with her. According to Hecht, he and Miers dated in the past and were members of the same born-again Christian church. Hecht gave 120 interviews in support of the eventually-unsuccessful nomination.
The New York Times has reported that, on the day of Miers' nomination, Hecht participated in a conference call with the Arlington Group
Arlington Group
The Arlington Group is a coalition which unites the leaders of prominent Christian conservative organizations in the United States. Founded in 2002 principally through the efforts of American Family Association President Donald Wildmon and Free Congress Foundation Chairman Paul Weyrich, the group...
, a coalition of Christian Conservatives, assuring them of her pro-life
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
views.
In May 2006 Hecht was admonished by the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct for "an improper use of his office and position to promote Miers's private interest" during the nomination; a three-judge panel exonerated Hecht of the charge after he appealed the decision.
In March 2007 Hecht said that he had asked Texas representative Tony Goolsby to propose a bill that would make the state reimburse his $340,000 legal fees, which his lawyers had discounted by $167,500. Goolsby withdrew the bill after learning that Hecht had already been reimbursed for the bill through "donations." Hecht defended his position by saying, “Here is the problem: If judges are sanctioned like this and it’s unjust and it’s wrong and they want to prove it, they can represent themselves or hire a lawyer that you can’t pay for on a judge’s salary.” He is paid $152,500. In December 2008, he was fined $29,000 by the Texas Ethics Commission in connection with the discount, which the Commission ruled was an improper political contribution.
Memberships, awards and community service
Hecht is a member of the American Law InstituteAmerican Law Institute
The American Law Institute was established in 1923 to promote the clarification and simplification of American common law and its adaptation to changing social needs. The ALI drafts, approves, and publishes Restatements of the Law, Principles of the Law, model codes, and other proposals for law...
, a member of the Texas Philosophical Society, and a fellow of the Texas and American Bar Foundations. He is on the advisory board of the S.M.U. Law Review and was named Outstanding Young Lawyer in 1984 by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers. He also has played organ for his church.
External links
- Justice Hecht's profile on the Texas Supreme Court website
- http://ltn-archive.hotresponse.com/may02/snap_shot_p14.html
- http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/rules/tdr/disccle3.htm
- http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3884465.html
- Who Is Nathan Hecht? (Planned Parenthood article)
- http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/21/21hecht.html