The board of directors of the State Bar of Texas will replace Steve Fischer on the State Commission on Judicial Conduct because Fischer plans to resign at the end of the year.

Fischer, a State Bar appointee to the commission, is facing a complaint that alleges he committed misconduct that warrants his removal from the commission.

The agency's chairman, David Hall, raised issues with Fischer allegedly breaking the commission's media rules by writing Facebook posts and making comments in news articles about the commission.

But Fischer responded that his First Amendment rights protect his speech, and has vowed to use his remaining time on the commission to bring more transparency to its work.

Fischer said the complaint has nothing to do with his decision to resign.

The December meeting this year will be his last.

He added that before his appointment, he made it clear he wouldn't serve the whole six-year term.

"I'll be 76 or so at the end of that term. I'm not doing that," he said.

Fischer doesn't want the Texas Senate to confirm his appointment to the judicial conduct commission, he wrote in an April 1 email to Sen. Dawn Buckingham. He wrote that he's asked State Bar leaders in October to begin searching for his replacement.

Fischer's email also raised "serious problems" with the commission, citing high turnover in the past six months of people who resigned and were replaced.

Fischer expressed his hope that the Texas Legislature would pass a bill to increase transparency on the commission, "as to [e]nsure the public is aware of vital and non-privileged information."

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Read the full email:

The judicial conduct commission has appointed Fischer to a subcommittee to rewrite its rules about commissioners making public comments about the commission. He said the subcommittee has not yet met about the rewrite, but that he expected those rules to be finalized before he steps down from his post.

"This shouldn't take more than one or two meetings," he said.

Jacqueline Habersham, executive director of the commission, didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

State Bar of Texas President Randy Sorrels said at an April 17 State Bar of Texas board meeting that he applauds Fischer's efforts to increase transparency at the commission. Sorrels shared with board members a copy of the complaint against Fischer, his response to the complaint, and an email he sent to Buckingham.

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Related story: Steve Fischer Likes to Talk. Now He's Under Fire for Facebook Posts, Media Comments

Lawyers also have responded positively to news about Fischer's fight for transparency on the commission. When Fischer posted a link to a Texas Lawyer article about the complaint against him, his post drew 175 comments.

"I support you, Steve," wrote Chris Parvin. "Wrote your name in for SBOT president the other day."

Earl Spielman wrote, "I like Steve Fischer. With him you always get his honest opinion, like it or not, and he is a fiercely loyal to the Texas Lawyers advocate."

Heather Gram-Chavez added, "I am a Steve Fischer fan 100%. Transparency and willingness to make changes are huge. There are too many people making decisions that are settled in the status quo."