Clearing up confusion in its order dismissing an ethics rebuke against Judge Sharon Keller, a special court of review has issued a new order that no longer makes taxpayers liable for Keller’s legal costs.Between her legal fees and being ordered to pay the largest ever ethics fine in Texas history, Keller's hubris has cost her a great deal financially if not politically. Lindell adds that the three judge panel "has not yet ruled on the motion for rehearing" in Keller's misconduct case.
The court’s original Oct. 11 order said Keller could recoup legal costs from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct - estimated by her lawyer to be “in the six figures” but probably less than $1 million.
State law, however, specifies that court costs and attorney fees cannot be awarded in judicial conduct proceedings. The new order deletes the reference.
For my part, I still don't understand why Keller hasn't been brought up on criminal charges for the ethics violations. In explaining why State Rep. Kino Flores was prosecuted for similar non-disclosure violations, Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg recently said "This verdict represents the public saying to public officials accurate and full public disclosure is an important part of public service ... The public will not accept excuses like, 'I was too busy' or 'I just didn't know.'" Yet those are precisely Sharon Keller's excuses for not reporting millions in assets and secret seats she held on multiple corporate boards. I can't help but think anyone else would face criminal liability in addition to the Ethics Commission fine if they engaged in the same behavior.
Wow, I'm shocked!
ReplyDeleteI apologize for Keller being rich, but on the CCA what difference should it make? Give it a rest. Her legal fees should be ample punishment, as the late Percy Foreman used to say.
ReplyDeleteOkay, Prison Doc's New Rule For The Plutocratic Society:
ReplyDeleteIf you're rich enough to incur and pay huge legal fees, you get to walk even if you're guilty. But if you are indigent and your court appointed lawyer works essentially for free, you go to jail if you're guilty.
When can we expect to see some more New Rules, Doc?
Daddy needs to flip a lot of burgers.
ReplyDeleteThe review panel is correcting its earlier mistake in ruling that Keller could ask to get taxpayers to pay her legal fees. Now they should let the SCJC correct its mistake by sending the case back to the Commission and telling them to pick a punishment allowed under the Constitution.
ReplyDeleteAs fu@k3) up as this has been, I am almost...ALMOST...ready to start rooting for Keller. This case is just another shining example of why justice in Texas is a J-O-K-E!
ReplyDeleteDoran, we're in two worlds here.
ReplyDeleteGrits, dude, get some counseling or something! Your Keller obsession has to be unhealthy! Maybe you and Jeff Cohen at the Houston Chronicle can get a group discount for some therapy! Wanna wager on whether she'll get reelected in 2012? :-)
ReplyDelete"Wanna wager on whether she'll get reelected in 2012?"
ReplyDeleteProbably true. But, what that says about Texas voters is truly frightening.
Just because a leader is popular doesn't make them right. There are plenty examples of popular leaders throughout history who we know regard as monsters.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete"Wanna wager on whether she'll get reelected in 2012?"
Probably true. But, what that says about Texas voters is truly frightening.
Just because a leader is popular doesn't make them right. There are plenty examples of popular leaders throughout history who we know regard as monsters.
11/05/2010 10:54:00 AM
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Of course she will get re-elected. Only an idiot would wager against her. On the other hand, I will wager that her margin of victory will be the same or less than Rick Perry's margin of victory. The same idiots who supported him will be herded to the polls to vote for her.
It is interesting that Democratic Representative Kino Flores can be indicted and convicted for failing to disclose financial information on his financial disclosure forms while Republican Sharon Keller doing the same thing isn't even considered to be worthy of pursuing.
ReplyDeleteIf Kino Flores is guilty of tampering with a government document by failing to disclose financial information, then certainly Sharon Keller is guilty of tampering with a government document for the same failure to disclose.
What part of illegal don't the partisan prosecutors failing to go bring charges against Keller understand?
1:39, it's Democratic prosecutors refusing to go after Keller on the ethics stuff - David Escamilla and Rosemary Lehmberg, the County and District Attorneys respectively in Travis. Keep in mind, though, Keller is the presiding appellate judge on the court with ultimate authority over the cases those offices prosecute every day. My guess is that's the source of their hesitation, though after prosecuting Flores I agree it looks like a double-standard.
ReplyDelete