Talton Files for Supreme Court Chief Justice

Former Houston-area state Rep. Robert Talton on Monday filed for Texas Supreme Court chief justice, assuring that the newly promoted Nathan Hecht will have a challenger for the Republican nomination.

The Pasadena Republican told The Texas Tribune that he was known for being an indepenedent voice. He added that he wants to sit on the Supreme Court because his children and granchchildren need an independent judiciary.

Talton served in the Legislature from 1992 through 2008, when he left to run unsuccessfully for Congress. During his tenure, he became well known as a master of the tactical strategy of taking down bills through points of order. His use of the parliamentary procedure, he said Monday, sends the message, "You've got to be willing to do what's right."

Talton said that he anticipated hiring a political consultant soon and that he's hoping to raise $250,000 or above to wage an effective campaign. He said he expects Hecht to raise between $500,000 and $1 million. And speaking of the incumbent, Talton said he's saying nothing about Hecht, whose long-running appeal of a state ethics fine was the subject of news reports last week.

Well, almost nothing. "None of my cases have sat for five years," Talton added, after saying he would refrain from comment. "That is a little different."