Wallace Jefferson, born 1963, is an appellate lawyer and the first black chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
Jefferson, a Republican, was appointed as a justice the court in 2001 by Gov. Rick Perry and, in 2002, won a statewide election to the office. Perry in 2004 appointed Jefferson as chief justice, an office to which he won a ...
Almost 55 percent of recent Texas public school students — a disproportionate number of them African-American or with learning disabilities — were suspended at least once between their seventh and 12th grade years, according to a new report.
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Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson and Justice Nathan Hecht sent lawmakers a letter Wednesday urging them to find $20 million during the special session to help needy people access civil courts.
Full StoryNo time to follow every twist and turn of the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly recaps of the action under the dome.
No time to follow every twist and turn of the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly recaps of the action under the dome.
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In his biennial State of the Judiciary address on Wednesday, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson urged the Legislature to protect legal aid funding — and renewed his call for the reform of judicial elections.
Full StoryIs a hospital bed an integral part of medical care? As a federal judge considers the constitutionality of Texas’ 2003 medical malpractice reform — and Gov. Rick Perry campaigns for more lawsuit restrictions — the state Supreme Court has ruled that hospital injuries seemingly unrelated to doctor error can fall under Texas’ stringent medical malpractice caps. Some legal observers say the decision is a perversion of legislative intent, but tort reform advocates contend the high court simply closed a huge loophole in liability reforms.
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The Texas Supreme Court justice-to-be (she'll take retiree Harriet O'Neill's seat on June 21) talks about about judicial elections, the recent ethics complaint filed against her and what happens when she disagrees with the law.
Full StoryAttorneys, judges, legal aid experts and law librarians gathered last week to strategize about how to create a system that can accommodate an increasing number of self-represented litigants — a problem that some say is going to shut down the court system.
Full StoryEven if 84 percent of Americans believe judges should not hear cases from major campaign contributors, the big Texas law firms that have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to them over the last ten years see nothing wrong with business as usual.
Full StoryWallace Jefferson, the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, on what race has to do with politics, why he's a member of the GOP, and whether the party has been sufficiently hospitable to African Americans.
Full StoryEl Paso District Judge Bill Moody said Monday that he plans to make a third run for the Texas Supreme Court.
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