Wallace B. Jefferson
Wallace B. Jefferson | |
---|---|
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas | |
In office September 20, 2004 – October 1, 2013 | |
Appointed by | Rick Perry |
Preceded by | Thomas R. Phillips |
Succeeded by | Nathan Hecht |
Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas | |
In office April 18, 2001 – September 20, 2004 | |
Appointed by | Rick Perry |
Preceded by | Alberto Gonzales |
Succeeded by | David M. Medina |
Personal details | |
Born | July 22, 1963 |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | (1) Rhonda Jefferson (divorced) (2) Renee Knake Jefferson (m. 2020) |
Children | 3 sons 2 stepchildren |
Occupation | Attorney, Former Jurist |
Wallace Bernard Jefferson is a former
He sits on the council of the
Early life and education
Jefferson is a graduate of
Historic judicial appointments and elections
In 2001, then
In November 2002, Jefferson stood for election to retain the position to which he had been appointed, and defeated William E. Moody with 56.76% of the vote. He became, together with Dale Wainwright, one of the two first African American Texans ever elected to that court.[citation needed]
Before Jefferson could complete his new term as associate justice, however, he was again promoted. On September 20, 2004, Governor Rick Perry selected Jefferson to succeed chief justice Thomas R. Phillips, who had resigned from the court a few weeks earlier, after nearly seventeen years as chief.
Jefferson was elected to the position of Chief Justice in November 2006, to serve out the remainder of Phillips's unexpired term, and was then reelected to a full six-year term.[citation needed] He became the first African American chief justice of that court.
In the 2008 general election contest, Jefferson defeated his Democratic Challenger, Dallas District Court Judge Jim Jordan, with 53% of the vote.
Jefferson resigned in 2013 before his six-year term of office expired. Governor
Jefferson is now in private practice and occasionally appears before his former colleagues on petitions for review, briefs, or for oral argument.[4]
Notable activities
Jefferson was elected to the American Law Institute (the ALI) in 2001, and was elected to the ALI council in 2011.[5] In May 2014, he was named treasurer of ALI. He also serves as an adviser on the Restatement Third, the law of consumer contracts.[6] Jefferson also chairs the ALI's regional advisory group, covering Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.[7]
During his time on the bench, Jefferson served as president of the Conference of Chief Justices,[8] an association of chief justices from the fifty states and U.S. territories.
In 2015, Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed Jefferson to the Texas Historical Commission.[9]
Before he became a judge, Jefferson successfully argued two cases before the
Honors and awards
In 2013, Jefferson was the recipient of the Texas Exes' Distinguished Alumnus Award.[12]
Jefferson is a 1981 graduate of John Jay High School in
Personal life
Jefferson has three sons.[14] Jefferson married law professor Renee Knake Jefferson on July 4, 2020, in Michigan. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer conducted the nuptials.[14]
Possible U.S. Supreme Court nomination
Jefferson was mentioned as a possible supreme court nominee by Hillary Clinton's campaign staff.[citation needed]
See also
- List of African-American jurists
References
- ^ "SBOT Attorney Profile Page for Wallace B. Jefferson".
- ^ The American Law Institute – List of Current Officers
- ^ "Texas Supreme Court's first African-American justice resigning". Reuters. September 3, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ "Dallas Morning News v Tatum, NO. 16-0098".
- ^ American Law Institute – List of Officers and Council Archived September 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Restatement Third, the Law of Consumer Contracts – List of Project Participants Archived January 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ALI Reporter – Chairs Selected for Regional Advisory Groups
- ^ Conference of Chief Justices – List of Past Presidents Archived March 12, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gabriela Trevino (May 15, 2015). "Local businesswoman appointed to state historical commission". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
- ^ [1] Board of Commissioners of Bryan County, Oklahoma v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397 (1997)
- ^ [2] Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 524 U.S. 274 (1998)
- ^ Alexander Dubose firm website – biographies – Wallace Jefferson
- ^ "About Wallace B. Jefferson Middle School".
- ^ a b "Their Very Own Loving Story - NY Times". Retrieved August 2, 2020.