Chief Justice Jefferson was unanimously elected by his peers across the country to become President of the Conference of Chief Justices in 2010-2011, where he will guide national judicial policy.
Wallace Jefferson has twice made history as the first African American Justice and Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. Chief Justice Jefferson was appointed to the Court in 2001, making him Governor Perry’s first appointment to a statewide judicial office. He was elected in 2002 with 60% of the vote in the contested Republican primary, and 56% of the vote in the contested general election. In 2004, Governor Perry promoted him to Chief Justice. In 2006, Chief Justice Jefferson earned more votes than any other candidate for State office.
He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Philosophy from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1985, and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1988 from the University of Texas School of Law. He is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Chief Justice Jefferson developed an early interest in appellate law as a student of the late constitutional scholar Charles Alan Wright. In 1989, he joined the appellate section of Groce, Locke & Hebdon in San Antonio. He founded his own appellate law firm with Tom Crofts and Sharon Callaway in 1991. Crofts, Callaway and Jefferson soon became one of the preeminent appellate practices in Texas.
A discussion on the goals to improve cost and efficiency of the civil justice system.
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