Monday, June 29, 2009

Former Third Court of Appeals Chief Justice W. Kenneth Law agreed to pay a $4,100 penalty imposed by the Texas Ethics Commission to settle charges brought by Texans for Public Justice that he violated numerous campaign finance regulations during his 2008 reelection bid. Judge Law was subsequently defeated in that November general election.

Kenneth Law Fined $4,100 for Campaign Violations

Penalty Follows Ethics Complaint Filed by Texans for Public Justice

Austin: Former Third Court of Appeals Chief Justice W. Kenneth Law agreed to pay a $4,100 penalty imposed by the Texas Ethics Commission to settle charges brought by Texans for Public Justice that he violated numerous campaign finance regulations during his 2008 reelection bid. Judge Law was subsequently defeated in that November general election.

In a sworn complaint to the Texas Ethics Commission on September 17, 2008, TPJ alleged that Judge Law violated at least six provisions of the campaign finance laws, including raising $66,850 before appointing a campaign treasurer as required by law and failing to disclose occupation and employer information for more than 50 of his contributors. At the time of the complaint, TPJ noted that the violations represented either incompetence or indifference to the campaign finance laws.

Earlier this month, the Texas Ethics Commission determined that there was credible evidence that Judge Law violated six sections of the Election Code and two sections of Ethics Commission Rules.

Law was first elected to the 3rd Court of Appeals in 2002. In August of 2008 he joined a controversial ruling in the criminal case against Tom DeLay’s Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC). The ruling used technical distinctions between “funds” and “checks” to suggest that TRMPAC did not illegally launder corporate political funds. Litigation over the money laundering charges is ongoing.

Details and copies of TPJ’s original complaint against Judge Law can be found here.