AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday named Nathan Hecht, the longest-serving jurist on the Texas Supreme Court, as chief justice to replace Wallace Jefferson, who announced last week that he will resign at the end of the month.

Hecht, who currently is fighting a $29,000 ethics fine for accepting and failing to report an illegal political contribution from a law firm, will start his term on Oct. 1.

"I know Justice Hecht to be a man of the most upstanding character and integrity, with an uncompromising commitment to protecting the interests of the citizens of Texas," Perry said in a statement. "As the most senior justice on the Court, his dedication to the rule of law and wealth of knowledge and judicial experience will be invaluable as he serves in this new role."

The Supreme Court of Texas is the state's highest court on noncriminal matters.

Elected in 1988, Hecht, 64, will serve as the state's top jurist until next year's general election. Hecht has been on the Texas Supreme Court since 1988 and has won re-election four times. He also is a former district judge from Dallas and an ex-appellate judge.

As a justice, he wrote the 2005 Supreme Court order that forced Texas lawmakers to revamp the school finance system. The ruling declared the system an unconstitutional statewide property tax.

In 2008, Hecht was fined $29,000 after the Texas Ethics commission determined he broke campaign finance laws while successfully fighting allegations that he abused his position in 2005 by openly supporting President George W. Bush's short-lived U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers.

The commission alleges Hecht racked up a large legal bill and was given a discount in the neighborhood of $168,000 on legal fees he received from attorney Chip Babcock and his law firm, Jackson Walker.

He appealed the fine in district court. The case is pending.