The San Antonio Express News recently reported that the Austin based Texas Ethics Commissions has leived a $100,000.00 fine against Judge Sharon Keller, who currently presides on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. According to the article, the fine was assessed because of Texas Judge Sharon Keller’s failure to make full financial disclosures in 2007 and 2008. 

Interestingly, Keller is best known for the well publisized investigation against her that has been conducted by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct. The investigation centered on whether she closed the courthouse doors on a Texas death row inmate’s effort to make an appeal before his execution. Ultimately, a special master in the case said that she should not be punished ‘beyond the public humiliation she has surely suffered.’ 

According to the San Antonio Express News, this type of fine is unusual in that the commission is often criticized for levying small fines.