Panel Dismisses Complaint Against Justice

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The Texas Ethics Commission has dismissed a complaint against Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht over the use of campaign cash.

A watchdog group filed an ethics complaints against Hecht a year ago, alleging he illegally used political contributions to pay for personal travel.

In an order issued Feb. 20, the commission dismissed the complaint based on “insufficient” evidence that the state election code was violated. Hecht denied wrongdoing.

Using political contributions for personal use is against state law.

Hecht couldn’t be reached for comment today. But in an interview with The Associated Press shortly before the complaint was filed in January 2008, Hecht said he used campaign cash to pay for flights to the Dallas suburb, where he owns a home and attends church, because he was campaigning.

Hecht, who was last elected in 2006, is not up for re-election until 2012. He is elected statewide.

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