Magazine content is available exclusively for TIME subscribers.Law: Is Texas Justice for Sale?
When lawyers in the Pennzoil-Texaco multibillion-dollar battle turned to the Texas Supreme Court, they were not approaching strangers. Since 1980 Houston Attorney Joseph Jamail and his firm, Pennzoil's victorious counsel, doled out $248,000 in campaign contributions to the justices. As for Russell McMains, Texaco's chief appellate lawyer in Texas, he has donated some $40,000 to members of the high bench, and his former Corpus Christi firm gave $150,000 more. Such cozy bench-polishing tactics are not illegal, since Texas is one of only nine states where virtually all judges are chosen in partisan elections. It also has no limits on campaign gifts....
Email, Password or Region is incorrect
A required form parameter was missing.
The System is currently down. Please try again in a few minutes.
Email Address is invalid
Password is blank
Most Popular »
- Why American Kids Are Brats
- The Voice: Whitney Houston (1963-2012)
- Whitney Houston: A Life in Photos
- North Dakota College Shaken by Fake Degrees
- Whitney Houston, Superstar of Records, Films, Dies at 48
- It's Official: Linsanity Is for Real
- Whitney Houston Remembered at Clive Davis Gala
- Icelanders Avoid Inbreeding Through Online Incest Database
- Kate Middleton's Amazing Fashion Evolution
- 10 Things We (Still) Kinda Hate About The Phantom Menace
- The Upside Of Being An Introvert (And Why Extroverts Are Overrated)
- Friends With Benefits
- N. Dakota College Shaken by False Degrees
- Syrian Rebels Plot Their Next Moves: A TIME Exclusive
- Halftime and Hyperbole
- The Street Fighter
- No More Tears
- Eat like an Italian
- Why Is Your Boss Moving to Brazil?
- Playing Favorites
More News from Our Partners
Top Stories on TIME.com
Quotes of the Day »
