Judge Keller Settles Record Ethics Fine

Sharon Keller, the state's top criminal court judge, has reached a deal to substantially reduce a record $100,000 fine levied by the Texas Ethics Commission for failing to fully disclose millions of dollars of real estate and income in financial statements. On Thursday, the Ethics Commission approved the settlement with a 7-0 vote, but referred questions to the attorney general's office, which represents state agencies in legal matters. According to a court filing, the Ethics Commission asked State District Judge Orlinda Naranjo in late May to take the case to trial. During the death-row case, Keller claimed she could not afford to pay her high-powered attorney, Charles Babcock, prompting a state watchdog group to dig into her personal financial filings, said Craig McDonald, executive director of Texans for Public Justice. According to the Commission's complaint, Keller in 2006 failed to report between 100 and 499 shares of stock, $61,500 in income, interest in eight properties valued that year at $2.4 million and two expenses totaling $3,760 that were accepted under the honorarium exception.

 

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